Department of Transportation June 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (Bridgestone) \1\, has determined that certain Firestone Transforce AT, size LT265/70R17, light truck replacement tires manufactured between November 20, 2011 and December 10, 2011, do not fully comply with paragraph Sec. 5.5(d) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. Bridgestone has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports, dated January 9, 2012.

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.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. That AD currently requires a detailed repetitive inspection of the exhaust system downstream of the turbochargers and repair or replacement of parts as necessary. This new AD requires visual repetitive inspections, expanding the inspection scope to include the entirety of each airplane exhaust system. This AD was prompted by reports of exhaust system failures upstream of aircraft turbochargers and between recurring detailed inspections. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

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.

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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the lower and upper front and rear fittings (fittings) that attach the upper fin to the fenestron for a crack. If there is a crack, this AD would require removing all four fittings from service. This proposed AD would also require, within a specified time, removing all fittings from service, and the fittings would not be eligible to be installed on any helicopter. This AD is prompted by the loss of an upper fin in flight. The proposed actions are intended to detect a crack in the fittings to prevent loss of the upper fin and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This notice announces the availability of one new and seven revised consensus standards relating to the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule issued July 16, 2004, and effective September 1, 2004. ASTM International Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft developed the new and revised standards with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) participation. By this notice, the FAA finds the new and revised standards acceptable for certification of the specified aircraft under the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule.

This notice describes the reasons for denying a petition (DP12-001) submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. Subtitle B, Chapter V, Part 552, Subpart A, requesting that the agency ``open an investigation'' into ``the repeated final drive bearing failure and possibly flawed assembly controls of the final drive unit on BMW K1200LT [motorcycles].''

The FAA is proposing to permit operators to use an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) in lieu of natural vision to continue descending from 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation to the runway and land on certain straight-in instrument approach procedures under instrument flight rules (IFR). This proposal would also permit certain operators using EFVS-equipped aircraft to dispatch, release, or takeoff under IFR, and to initiate and continue an approach, when the destination airport weather is below authorized visibility minimums for the runway of intended landing. Under this proposal, pilot training, recent flight experience, and proficiency would be required for operators who use EFVS in lieu of natural vision to descend below decision altitude, decision height, or minimum descent altitude. EFVS- equipped aircraft conducting operations to touchdown and rollout would be required to meet additional airworthiness requirements. This proposal would also revise pilot compartment view certification requirements for vision systems using a transparent display surface located in the pilot's outside view. The proposal would take advantage of advanced vision capabilities thereby achieving the NextGen goals of increasing access, efficiency, and throughput at many airports when low visibility is the limiting factor. Additionally, it would enable EFVS operations in reduced visibilities on a greater number of approach procedure types while maintaining an equivalent level of safety.

On February 13, 2013, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice in the Federal Register of its intent to revise the gas distribution annual report (PHMSA F7100.1- 1) to improve the granularity of the data collected. In addition to making several minor changes to the report, PHMSA will also request a new OMB Control number for this information collection. PHMSA received two comments in response to that notice. PHMSA is publishing this notice to respond to the comments, provide the public with an additional 30 days to comment on the proposed revisions to the forms and the instructions, and announce that the revised Information Collections will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.

This action proposes to modify Class D and E airspace at Kenai, AK, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Kenai Municipal Airport. A minor adjustment also would be made to the geographic coordinates of the airport. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Kenai airspace area, would enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action modifies Class E airspace at Greenlee County Airport, Clifton/Morenci, AZ, to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Greenlee County Airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Blue Mesa VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), Blue Mesa, CO, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Denver and Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs). This improves the safety and management of IFR operations within the National Airspace System.

This action modifies Class E airspace at Bend, OR, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Bend Municipal Airport. This improves the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport. This action also makes some editorial changes for clarity. This action also adjusts the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines. This AD requires reducing the life of certain critical parts. This AD was prompted by a review carried out by RR of the lives of these parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-limited parts, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

This notice announces the reopening of the comment period on the availability of draft Airman Certification Standards (ACS) documents developed by the Airman Testing Standards and Training WG for the private pilot certificate and the instrument rating. These documents are available for public review, download, and comment.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the torque value of the bolts that secure the front and rear main gearbox (MGB) suspension bar attaching fittings, and re-torqueing the bolts to the proper value if the torque value is out of tolerance. This proposed AD would also require, if the torque value is out of tolerance by more than 20 percent, inspecting the bolts, frames, and related equipment for a crack and repairing or replacing them if cracked. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracks on Frame 5295 of Model AS332L2 helicopters. These actions are intended to detect the torque loss of the bolts that secure the MGB bar attaching fittings and to prevent cracks that could lead to failure of the MGB supporting structure, detachment of the MGB, and loss of helicopter control.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Model 206B and 206L helicopters. This proposed AD would require installing a placard beneath the engine power dual tachometer and revising the operating limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This proposed AD is prompted by several incidents of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady-state operations. The proposed actions are intended to alert pilots to avoid certain engine speeds during steady-state operations, prevent failure of the third stage engine turbine, engine power loss, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Model 430 helicopters. This proposed AD would require installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This proposed AD is prompted by several incidents of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady-state operations. The proposed actions are intended to alert pilots to avoid certain engine speeds during steady-state operations, prevent failure of the third stage engine turbine, engine power loss, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

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 reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.