Department of Transportation September 1, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 206: Aeronautical Information and Meteorological Data Link Services.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 225: Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery SystemsSmall and Medium Sizes.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 217: Joint with EUROCAE WG-44 Terrain and Airport Mapping Databases.

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:

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive external non-destructive inspections to detect cracks in the fuselage skin along the chem-mill step at stringers S-1 and S-2 right, between station (STA) 827 and STA 847, and repair if necessary. Since we issued that AD, we have received reports of additional crack findings of the fuselage crown skin at the chem-milled steps. This proposed AD would add inspections for cracking in additional fuselage crown skin locations, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would also reduce the inspection thresholds for certain airplanes, extend certain repetitive inspection intervals, and add airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin panels at the chem- milled steps, which could result in sudden fracture and failure of the fuselage skin panels, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD would require removing certain ``machined-from-billet'' Volare LLC (formerly Precision Airmotive Corporation, formerly Facet Aerospace Products Company, formerly Marvel-Schebler (BorgWarner)) HA-6 carburetors, inspecting for a loose mixture control sleeve or for a sleeve that may become loose, repairing the carburetor, or replacing the carburetor with one eligible for installation. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a ``machined-from-billet'' HA-6 carburetor having a loose mixture control sleeve that rotated in the carburetor body causing restriction of fuel and power loss. We are proposing this AD to prevent engine in-flight shutdown, power loss, and reduced control of the airplane.

The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), announces this notice to advise the public of the rescinding of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for improvements that were proposed for the Bayview Transportation Improvements Project. The NOI was published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2004. This rescission is based on major changes in the scope of the project.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. That AD currently requires frequent inspections of the fuel pressure supply for excessive oscillations to determine if high-pressure (HP) fuel pumps have been exposed to damaging pressure oscillations. Pumps that have been exposed require replacement before further flight. This new AD requires the initial and repetitive inspections of AD 2010-23-09, but also requires installing HP fuel pump part number (P/N) E4A-30-200-000, as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, PHMSA is publishing this notice to announce the availability of the draft environment assessment prepared in response to the request for a special permit we have received from El Paso Pipeline, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. This notice also seeks public comments on any safety or environmental impacts relative to this request. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will evaluate the comments and determine whether to grant or deny a special permit.