Department of Transportation March 22, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice solicits public comments on continuation of the requirements for the collection of information on safety standards. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information with respect to the phase-in of the upgraded requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214, ``Side impact protection,'' for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: * * * * * The airworthiness limitations applicable to the Safe Life Airworthiness Limitation Items (SL ALI) are given in Airbus A330 ALS Part 1 and A340 ALS Part 1, which are approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The revision 05 of Airbus A340 ALS Part 1 introduces more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations. Failure to comply with this revision constitutes an unsafe condition. For A330 aeroplanes, this EASA AD retains the requirements of EASA AD 2010-0131, which it supersedes. For A340 aeroplanes, this EASA AD supersedes EASA AD 2009-0192, and requires the implementation of the new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations as specified in Airbus A340 ALS Part 1, revision 05.

The Board has approved the second quarter 2011 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The second quarter 2011 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.176. The second quarter 2011 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.523. The second quarter 2011 RCAF-5 is 0.495.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing 747-468 airplane. This airplane, as modified by Jet Aviation, will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of a medical lift. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require a one-time inspection for damage of the hydraulic actuator rod ends and actuator attach fittings on the thrust reversers, and repair or replacement if necessary. For all airplanes, this proposed AD also would require repetitive inspections for damage of the hydraulic actuator rod ends, attach bolts, and nuts; repetitive inspections for damage of fitting assemblies, wear spacers, and actuator attach fittings on the thrust reverser; repetitive measurements of the wear spacer; and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by in-service damage of the attachment fittings for the thrust reverser actuator. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such damage, which could result in actuator attach fitting failure, loss of the thrust reverser auto restow function, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

FRA is proposing to amend its hours of service recordkeeping regulations, to establish hours of service regulations, including maximum on-duty periods, minimum off-duty periods, and other limitations, for train employees (e.g., locomotive engineers and conductors) providing commuter and intercity rail passenger transportation. The proposed regulations would require that railroads employing such train employees analyze and mitigate the risks for fatigue in the schedules worked by these train employees, and that the railroads submit to FRA for its approval the relevant schedules and fatigue mitigation plans. This proposed rule would also make corresponding changes to FRA's hours of service recordkeeping regulation, to require railroads to keep hours of service records and report excess service to FRA in a manner consistent with the new requirements. This proposed regulation is authorized by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Model EC130 B4 helicopters. This action requires identifying and inspecting a certain emergency flotation gear unit ``1G'' (1G unit). This action also requires modification of certain affected 1G units. This amendment is prompted by an uncommanded in-flight deployment of the emergency flotation gear when it was not armed by the crew. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent an uncommanded in-flight deployment of the emergency flotation gear, unexpected deceleration and pitch down movement of the helicopter, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive detailed inspections of the slat track downstop assemblies to verify that proper hardware is installed, one-time torquing of the nut and bolt, and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD also requires replacing the hardware of the downstop assembly with new hardware of the downstop assembly, doing a detailed inspection or a borescope inspection of the slat cans on each wing and the lower rail of the slat main tracks for debris, replacing the bolts of the aft side guide with new bolts, and removing any debris found in the slat can. This AD also removes airplanes from the applicability. This AD results from reports of parts coming off the main slat track downstop assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent loose or missing parts from the main slat track downstop assemblies from falling into the slat can and causing a puncture, which could result in a fuel leak and consequent fire.