Department of Transportation 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register May 29, 2013 that establishes Class E en route airspace at the Tuba City VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigational Aid (VORTAC), Tuba City, AZ. In that rule, an error was made in the legal description for Tuba City, identifying the region as ANM instead of AWP.

This action amends Class D and Class E airspace at San Marcos, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at San Marcos Municipal Airport and the decommissioning of the Garys Locator Outer Marker (LOM). This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. Geographic coordinates are also updated.

This action amends Class D airspace at Waco, TX, by separating the Class D airspace at Waco Regional Airport from the Class D airspace at TSTC-Waco Airport. The FAA is taking this action to alleviate multiple air traffic controllers handling the same airspace and for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. The geographic coordinates for Waco Regional Airport are also adjusted.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Wagner, SD. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Wagner Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace at Mason, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Mason County Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace at Gruver, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Gruver Municipal Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Mahnomen, MN. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Mahnomen County Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

A recent catastrophic railroad accident occurred in Canada when an unattended freight train containing hazardous materials rolled down a descending grade and subsequently derailed. It is currently estimated that this accident resulted in 42 fatalities, and 5 persons are still reported to be missing. In response, FRA issued Emergency Order No. 28 regarding the securement of trains, and FRA and PHMSA (collectively, DOT) are also issuing this safety advisory. This safety advisory discusses the circumstances surrounding the accident and makes certain safety-related recommendations to railroads operating in the United States. This safety advisory also provides notice of FRA's intent to schedule an emergency meeting of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee to discuss this accident and potential regulatory actions to prevent similar future accidents from occurring.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Tazewell, TN, as new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at New Tazewell Municipal Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E Airspace at Magee, MS, to accommodate a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) serving Magee Municipal Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Ottumwa Regional Airport, Ottumwa, Iowa, under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

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.

FMCSA requests public comment on an application for exemption from Van Hool N.V. and Coach USA (Van Hool/Coach USA) to allow the use of double deck motorcoaches constructed with a sleeper berth that has an exit that does not meet the minimum dimensional requirements specified in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Section 393.76(c)(1) of the FMCSRs requires sleeper berths installed (1) on or after January 1, 1963 to have an exit that is a doorway or opening that is at least 18 inches high and 36 inches wide and (2) before January 1, 1963, to have sufficient area to contain an ellipse having a major axis of 24 inches and a minor axis of 16 inches. Because of the limited available locations to place the sleeper berth within the confines of the motorcoach, Van Hool/Coach USA is requesting an exemption that would allow the use of sleeper berths that comply with the pre-January 1, 1963, exit dimension requirements instead of the post-January 1, 1963, requirements. Van Hool/Coach USA believes that the reduced exit area of the sleeper berth will maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Turbomeca S.A. ASTAZOU XIV B and XIV H engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the 2nd-stage turbine disc. This proposed AD would require replacement of the 2nd-stage turbine disc. We are proposing this AD to prevent disc cracking, uncontained 2nd-stage turbine blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the helicopter.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2012-14-04 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes. AD 2012-14-04 required replacing certain parking brake accumulators. This new AD retains this requirement. This new AD also requires installing restraint devices around the parking brake accumulator end caps. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a parking brake accumulator screw cap or end cap resulting in loss of the number 2 hydraulic system and damage to airplane structures, which could adversely affect the controllability of the airplane.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2000-06-13 R1, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200, -200C, -300, and -400 series airplanes. AD 2000-06-13 R1 required repetitively inspecting for cracking of the corners of the door frame and the cross beams of the aft cargo door, and corrective actions if necessary. AD 2000-06-13 R1 also required modifying the aft cargo door, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This new AD adds airplanes to the applicability, adds inspections and related investigative and corrective actions, revises certain inspection types, and reduces a certain compliance time for modifying the doors. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the forward and aft corner frames of the aft cargo door and in the lower cross beam. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the corners of the door frame and the cross beams of the aft cargo door, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously Utah State University); Firefly Aviation Helicopter Services (previously Erickson Air-Crane Co.); California Department of Forestry; Garlick Helicopters, Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund Helicopters, LLC (previously Western International Aviation, Inc.); International Helicopters, Inc.; Precision Helicopters, LLC; Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; San Joaquin Helicopters (previously Hawkins and Powers Aviation, Inc.); S.M.&T. Aircraft (previously US Helicopters, Inc., UNC Helicopter, Inc., Southern Aero Corporation, and Wilco Aviation); Smith Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc. (previously Jamie R. Hill and Southwest Florida Aviation); Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. (previously Ranger Helicopter Services, Inc.); US Helicopter, Inc. (previously UNC Helicopter, Inc.); West Coast Fabrication; and Williams Helicopter Corporation (previously Scott Paper Co.) Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P Helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model UH- 1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) Helicopters. This AD requires creating a component history card or equivalent record for each main rotor grip (grip); determining and recording the total hours time-in- service (TIS) for each grip; visually inspecting the upper and lower tangs of the grip for a crack; inspecting the grip buffer pads for delamination and if delamination is present, inspecting the grip surface for corrosion or other damage; inspecting the grip for a crack using ultrasonic (UT) and fluorescent penetrant inspection methods; and establishing a retirement life for certain grips. This AD was prompted by three in-flight failures of grips installed on Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 212 helicopters, which resulted from cracks originating in the lower main rotor blade bolt lug. The actions are intended to prevent failure of the grip, separation of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Washington, KS. Decommissioning of the Morrison non-directional beacon (NDB) at Washington County Memorial Airport has made reconfiguration necessary for standard instrument approach procedures and for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Geographic coordinates would also be updated.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Wadena, MN. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Wadena Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport. Geographical coordinates would also be updated.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters. This proposed AD would require measuring the distance between the end of the main rotor collective pitch lever (collective) locking stud (locking stud) and the locking strip and repairing the locking stud if the clearance is insufficient. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that insufficient distance between the locking stud and the locking strip may cause the collective to become inadvertently locked in the low pitch (low) position. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the collective from becoming inadvertently locked in the low position and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.