Department of Transportation March 28, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on January 7, 2014 (Federal Register 892, Vol. 79, No. 4).

This document announces a one-year program to demonstrate the capabilities of Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) for the general aviation community. The document also states the FAA's policy concerning enforcement during this demonstration program.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 19 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.

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2013 Kenworth and Peterbilt brand chassis cab incomplete vehicles do not fully comply with paragraph S3.1.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect. PACCAR has filed an appropriate revised report dated March 1, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of ``BLEED 1(2) LEAK'' messages displayed on the Engine Indication and Crew Alert System (EICAS), and indirect damage to components of the Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) in the engine pylon area. This proposed AD would require inspecting the EWIS components for damage, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would also require installing pre-cooler deflectors on the left- and right-hand pylons, and applying silicone sealant. We are proposing this AD to prevent indirect damage to EWIS components near the engine bleed air pre-coolers, which could result in a dual engine roll back to idle and consequent dual engine power loss and reduced controllability of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that, on a different Boeing airplane model, there was an oxygen-fed fire, which caused extensive damage to the flight deck. This proposed AD would require replacing the low- pressure oxygen hoses with non-conductive hoses in the crew oxygen system. We are proposing this AD to prevent inadvertent electrical current from passing through an internal, anti-collapse spring of the low pressure oxygen hose, which can cause the low-pressure oxygen hose to melt or burn, leading to an oxygen-fed fire and/or smoke beneath the flight compartment in the forward electronics equipment bay.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 727 airplanes. This AD will 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. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of small repairs done on the vertical flange of the rib chord, repetitive inspections for cracking along the upper fillet radius of the rib chord, and a large repair or preventive modification if necessary. Accomplishment of a large repair or preventive modification terminates the actions of this AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the rib upper chord, which could result in the inability of the wing structure to support the limit load condition, and consequent loss of structural integrity of the wing.

The purpose of this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is to propose changes to Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) regulations to address provisions in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) as well as to incorporate clarifications to better explain existing regulatory language. Specifically, this rule proposes to amend DOT's regulations to address MAP-21 provisions that removed the requirement for States to prepare a Transparency Report, removed the High Risk Rural Roads set-aside, and removed the 10 percent flexibility provision for States to use safety funding in accordance with federal law. This rule also proposes to amend DOT's regulations to address a MAP-21 provision that requires DOT to establish a subset of roadway data elements that are useful to the inventory of roadway safety, and to ensure that States adopt and use the subset. Finally, this rule proposes to address MAP-21 provisions that add State Strategic Highway Safety Plan update requirements and require States to develop HSIP performance targets. The proposed changes are intended to clarify the regulation for the development, implementation, and evaluation of highway safety improvement programs that are administered in each State.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by failure of the anchor attachment on the occupant restraint system on the standard attendant seat due to an undersized attachment fitting. This proposed AD would require replacing the existing restraint attachment fitting on the standard attendant seat with a new, improved attachment fitting. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the restraint attachment fitting and consequent detachment of the attendant seat during an emergency landing, which could cause injury to passengers and crew and could impede a rapid evacuation.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 landing gear actuator rod and piston becoming unscrewed during operation and the landing gear actuator ball joint becoming uncrimped. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This AD was prompted by results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires accomplishing modifications to the fuel system. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-08-25 that applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-400F series airplanes. AD 2008-08-25 required installing drains and drain tubes to eliminate water accumulation in the drip shield above the M826 cardfile in the main equipment center. This new AD requires installing modified drain tubes, relocating wire bundle routing, installing a new drip shield and drip shield deflectors, and replacing insulation blankets. For certain airplanes, this new AD also concurrently requires sealing the drain slot, installing spuds, and installing drain tubes. This AD was prompted by reports of continued water damage to diode fire card 285U0072-1 in the M826 automatic fire overheat logic test system cardfile following a false FWD CARGO FIRE message, with no change in frequency, which resulted in an air turn back. We are issuing this AD to prevent water from exiting over the edge of the existing drip shield and contaminating electrical components in the M826 cardfile, which could result in an electrical short and potential loss of several functions essential for safe flight.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-08-04 for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2008-08-04 required repetitive inspections for cracking in the forward lug of the support rib 5 fitting of the left and right main landing gear (MLG), and repair or replacement of any cracked MLG fitting if necessary. AD 2008-08-04 also required modification of the rib bushings of the left and right MLG, which ended the repetitive inspections. This new AD requires, for airplanes on which certain modifications or repairs have been done, repetitive inspections for cracks of the forward lug of each left-hand and right-hand MLG support rib 5 fitting, and repair if necessary; and adds Model A318 series airplanes to the applicability. Replacement of an MLG support rib 5 fitting terminates the repetitive inspection requirements for the MLG support rib 5 fitting at that position. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks found in the forward lug of the MLG support rib 5 fitting. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking in the forward lug of the MLG, which could result in failure of the lug and consequent collapse of the MLG during takeoff or landing.