Department of Transportation 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA is extending the deadline and comment period for the Designation of the highway Primary Freight Network (PFN) notice, which was published on November 19, 2013, at 78 FR 69520. The original comment period is set to close on December 19, 2013. The extension is based on input received from DOT stakeholders that the December 19 closing date does not provide sufficient time for submission of comments to the docket. The FHWA agrees that the deadline and the comment period should be extended. Therefore, the closing date for submission of comments is extended to January 17, 2014, which will provide others interested in commenting additional time to submit comments to the docket.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes; and DHC-8-200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a beta warning horn (BWH) system failing to activate when the beta mode was triggered. This proposed AD would require modifying the BWH microswitch installation. We are proposing this AD to prevent the inadvertent activation of ground beta mode during flight, which could lead to engine overspeed, engine damage or failure, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

This action proposes special conditions for the Bombardier Inc. Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with an electronic flight control system that prevents the pilot from inadvertently or intentionally exceeding the positive or negative airplane limit load factor. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of information described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 20, 2013. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 3 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

This document announces decisions by NHTSA that certain motor vehicles not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards or because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS.

We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 99-01-05 for certain aircraft equipped with wing lift struts. AD 99-01-05 required repetitively inspecting the wing lift struts for corrosion; repetitively inspecting the wing lift strut forks for cracks; replacing any corroded wing lift strut; replacing any cracked wing lift strut fork; and repetitively replacing the wing lift strut forks at a specified time for certain airplanes. AD 99-01-05 also required incorporating a ``NO STEP'' placard on the wing lift strut. Since we issued AD 99-01-05, we were informed that paragraph (c) had been misinterpreted and caused confusion. This AD clarifies the intent of the language in paragraph (c) of AD 99-01-05 and retains all other requirements of AD 99-01-05. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Cessna Model 680 series airplanes. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features associated with connectivity of the passenger service computer systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. The network architecture is composed of several connected networks including the following: 1. Flight-Safety related control and navigation systems, 2. Operator business and administrative support, and 3. Passenger entertainment. 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.

This action amends Class E airspace at Del Rio, TX. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new circling approach requirements at Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB). The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Geographic coordinates are also updated.

This action amends Class E airspace within the Green Bay, WI, area by updating the geographic coordinates for Austin-Straubel International Airport. This action does not change the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Hamilton, OH. Decommissioning of the Hamilton nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) at Butler County Regional 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. The airport's name and geographic coordinates also would be changed.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously Held by Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Model CN-235-300 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of reduced thickness of the center fuselage lower skin panel. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection to determine the presence of panel thickness reduction, and repetitive nondestructive testing (NDT) inspections and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct a reduced thickness of lower panel joints, which could result in reduced fatigue and damage tolerant characteristics of the lower panel joint to the adjacent side panels and lead to failure of the center fuselage lower skin panel, resulting in loss of control of the airplane.

We are revising an earlier supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, - 700C, -800, -900 and -900ER series airplanes. The SNPRM proposed to require inspecting for a serial number that starts with the letters ``SAIC'' on the left- and right-side horizontal stabilizer identification plate; inspecting for correct bolt protrusion and chamfer of the termination fitting bolts of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar, if necessary; inspecting to determine if certain bolts are installed, if necessary; and doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. The SNPRM was prompted by reports of incorrectly installed bolts common to the rear spar termination fitting on the horizontal stabilizer. This action revises the SNPRM by revising the applicable thresholds from flight cycles on the airplane to flight cycles accumulated on the affected horizontal stabilizer. We are proposing this SNPRM to prevent loss of structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer attachment and loss of control of the airplane. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the earlier SNPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 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.

Morgan 3 Wheeler Limited \1\ (Morgan) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012 and 2013 Morgan model M3W three-wheeled motorcycles do not fully comply with either paragraph S7.9.6.2(b) or paragraph S10.7.1.2.2 (depending on the vehicles date of manufacture) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Morgan has filed an appropriate report dated August 6, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Mansfield, OH. A Class E surface area is necessary to accommodate military mission changes when the control tower is closed at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport.

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 September 24, 2013, vol. 78, no. 185, page 58597. Flight plan information is used to govern the flight of aircraft for the protection and identification of aircraft and property and persons on the ground.

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 September 24, 2013, vol. 78, no. 185, page 58598. The information is used to identify airmen to allow the agency to verify their foreign license being used to qualify for a U.S. certificate. Respondents are holders of foreign licenses wishing to obtain U.S. certificates.

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 September 24, 2013, vol. 78, no. 185, pages 58598-58599. The FAA collects information to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Beechcraft Corporation (type certificate previously held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the front spar cap angles and hat section structure of the vertical stabilizer. This AD requires inspections of the vertical stabilizer spar angles and hat section for cracks with corrective actions as necessary. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a fractured wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint bolt. This proposed AD would require doing a torque check of all wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint bolts, and repairing or replacing if necessary. For certain airplanes this proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for corrosion, damage, and wear of each wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint bolt and associated hardware, and replacing if necessary; and a borescope inspection for corrosion and damage of the bore hole and barrel nut threads, and repairing or replacing if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fractured bolts, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing- to-fuselage strut attachment joint and subsequent loss of the wing.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 84-19-01, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-200F series airplanes. AD 84-19-01 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of certain tension ties, and repair and certain modifications if necessary. Since we issued AD 84-19-01, the upper deck tension ties have been identified as structure that is susceptible to widespread fatigue damage (WFD), and additional action is necessary for certain airplanes to adequately address the identified unsafe condition on the fleet. This proposed AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would add inspections for cracking of the tension tie at body station (BS) 760 or 780, corrective action if necessary, and eventual modification of the tension ties. For all airplanes, this proposed AD would require repetitive post-modification inspections for cracking of the tension tie at BS 760 or 780, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct tension tie cracking, which could eventually result in in-flight depressurization of the airplane and the inability to withstand current regulatory failsafe loads.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Morrisville, VT, as the Morrisville-Stowe Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at Morrisville-Stowe State Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the geographic coordinates of the airport.