Department of Transportation September 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 the collection of information for which FRA intends to seek OMB approval.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-300 series airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that, during a flight test, several spoiler servo-controls (SSCs) did not remain locked in the retracted position (hydraulic locking function) after manual depressurization of the corresponding hydraulic circuit. Loss of that locking functionwhich is ensured by a blocking valvewas caused by an internal leak from a sheared seal on the blocking valve. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine if certain SSCs are installed, performing an operational test of any affected SSC, and replacing if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of the hydraulic locking function during take-off and go-around phases, which, in combination with malfunction of one engine, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Gulfstream G150 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a review that determined that the runway slope and anti-ice corrections to V1 and take-off distances in the Gulfstream G150 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) were presented in a non-conservative manner. This proposed AD would require revising the performance section of the AFM to include procedures to advise the flightcrew of certain runway slope and anti-ice corrections and take- off distance values. We are proposing this AD to prevent the use of published non-conservative data, which could result in the inability to meet the required take-off performance, with consequent hazard to safe operation during performance-limited take-off operations.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-202, -203, -223, -243, -302, -323, -342, and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-313 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that a specific batch of cargo doors might have deviations in quality related to door structure, such as irregular bore holes, improper application of sealant and paint, or uncleanliness. This proposed AD would require inspecting to identify the part and serial numbers of the forward and aft cargo doors, and replacing the affected cargo doors. We are proposing this AD to prevent the degraded structural capability of the cargo door, a primary structure, from leading to failure of the door, which could lead to a breach through the door or the door detaching from the airplane, resulting in potential rapid decompression.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 9, 2012, vol. 77, no. 131, page 40404. 14 CFR part 135 prescribes requirement for Air Carrier/Commercial Operators. The info collected shows compliance and applicant eligibility.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 9, 2012, vol. 77, no. 131, page 40405. This information is used to issue special flight authorizations for non- revenue transports and non-transport jet operations of Stage 2 airplanes at U.S. airports. A minimal amount of data is requested to identify the affected parties and determine whether the purpose for the flight is one enumerated by law.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received the final application from the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority for the participation of Luis Mu[ntilde]oz Mar[iacute]n International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) in the Airport Privatization Pilot Program and has determined that the final application is substantially complete and accepted for review. The FAA is seeking information and comments from interested parties on the final application. In furtherance of this effort, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration will conduct a public meeting on Friday, September 28, 2012, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Title 49 U.S.C. Section 47134 establishes an airport privatization pilot program and authorizes the Department of Transportation to grant exemptions from certain Federal statutory and regulatory requirement for up to five airport privatization projects. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 expanded the pilot program from five to ten airports. The application procedures require the FAA to publish a notice of receipt of the final application in the Federal Register and accept public comment on the final application for a period of 60 days.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on special permits applications in (August to August 2012). The mode of transportation involved are identified by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Special Permits. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain special permits were issued.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the applications described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Requests for modification of special permits (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. These applications have been separated from the new application for special permits to facilitate processing.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires accomplishment of the TU166 modification. This new AD requires adding the Arriel 2S2 and 2C2 engines to the applicability of engines requiring the TU166 modification with different compliance times. This AD was prompted by reports of an accident involving a twin-engine helicopter powered by two Arriel 2S2 engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent rupture of a gas generator (GG) turbine blade, which could result in an uncommanded in-flight shutdown and a forced landing or accident.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking in the web of the aft pressure bulkhead at body station 1016 at the aft fastener row attachment to the ``Y'' chord, and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD adds various inspections for discrepancies at the aft pressure bulkhead, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by several reports of fatigue cracking at that location. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid decompression of the fuselage.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 helicopters to require cleaning, inspecting, and lubricating each tangential gearbox (gearbox) and adjusting, as necessary, the fuel shut-off control lever. This AD was prompted by the jamming of one of two fuel shut-off control levers because of solidified grease in the gearbox. A companion gearbox had extensive corrosion. In case of an emergency, pilots may need to use the control levers to shut off fuel going into the engine and to shut off the helicopter's electrical power system. The jamming of the levers prevents the shut off of the engine fuel and prevents the parallel- mounted micro switches from switching off the electrical power system. These actions are intended to prevent the jamming of the control levers, which could prevent shut-off of the engine fuel and electrical power system during an emergency shutdown.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a detailed repetitive inspection of the exhaust system downstream of the turbochargers and repair or replacement of parts as necessary. Since we issued that AD, forced landings of aircraft have occurred due to exhaust system failures upstream of aircraft turbochargers and between recurring detailed inspections. This proposed AD would require both visual and detailed repetitive inspections, expanding the inspection scope to include the entirety of each airplane exhaust system. We are proposing this AD to prevent the possibility of an inflight powerplant fire due to an exhaust system failure.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700 and -700C series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of early fatigue cracks at chem-mill areas on the crown skin panels. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin at certain locations at chem-mill areas, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the skin panel at the specified chem-mill step locations, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of early fatigue cracks at chem- mill areas on the crown skin panels. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin at certain locations at chem-mill areas, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the skin panel at the specified chem- mill step locations, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Models EMB-135 and EMB-145 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the airplane seats that have non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels that would affect survivability during a post-crash fire event. 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval. FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR entitled, ``Quarterly Report of Class I Motor Carriers of Property (formerly OMB 2139-0002),'' which the Agency uses to ensure that motor carriers comply with its financial and operating statistics requirements in chapter III of title 49 CFR part 369 entitled, ``Reports of Motor Carriers.'' FMCSA invites public comment on this ICR. On April 20, 2012, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. In response to the above notice, the Agency received one comment from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA), which requested that these reports no longer be required. FMCSA may consider this request in a future rulemaking regarding this information collection requirement.

FMCSA announces that it will hold its third and final public listening session to receive comments on the Agency's June 5, 2012, notice concerning regulatory guidance on the applicability of the oilfield operations exceptions in the hours-of-service regulations. In an August 6, 2012, Federal Register notice, the Agency extended the deadline for public comments from August 6 to October 5, 2012. As with the previous sessions, the Dallas listening session will be open to the public and webcast in its entirety.