Department of Transportation August 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Today the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing Safety Advisory 14-3 advising rail transit agencies that operate reconditioned vintage/heritage trolley vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1956, of an operating concern regarding B and K high voltage operating controllers. This safety advisory recommends specific and immediate action for rail transit agencies not overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and provides supporting technical resources. The FTA's Safety Advisory 14-3, ``Vintage/Heritage Trolley Vehicle B and K Operating Controllers,'' is available in its entirety on the agency's public Web site (https://www.fta.dot.gov/tso_15922.html).

This action amends Class D and Class E Airspace at Hartford, CT, by updating the geographic coordinates of Hartford-Brainard Airport. This action does not change the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. Ltd.) Model MU-300 airplanes, and Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400, 400A, and 400T airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of fatigue cracking in the horizontal stabilizer ribs. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rib assemblies for cracking, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in the failure of the horizontal stabilizer and loss of pitch control of the airplane.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA or we), in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), is proposing: new operational requirements for certain trains transporting a large volume of Class 3 flammable liquids; improvements in tank car standards; and revision of the general requirements for offerors to ensure proper classification and characterization of mined gases and liquids. These proposed requirements are designed to lessen the frequency and consequences of train accidents/incidents (train accidents) involving certain trains transporting a large volume of flammable liquids. The growing reliance on trains to transport large volumes of flammable liquids poses a significant risk to life, property, and the environment. These significant risks have been highlighted by the recent instances of trains carrying crude oil that derailed in Casselton, North Dakota; Aliceville, Alabama; and Lac- M[eacute]gantic, Quebec, Canada. The proposed changes also address National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) safety recommendations on the accurate classification and characterization of such commodities, enhanced tank car construction, and rail routing.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200 and -300, and A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reassessment of an unsafe condition related to MZ-type spoiler servo-controls (SSCs) that did not remain locked in the retracted position (hydraulic locking function) after manual depressurization of the corresponding hydraulic circuit. This reassessment resulted in the determination that performing repetitive operational tests of all SSC types is necessary. This AD requires repetitive operational tests of the hydraulic locking function on each SSC installed on the blue or yellow hydraulic circuits, and replacing any affected SSC with a serviceable SSC. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loss of the hydraulic locking function during take-off, which, in combination with one inoperative engine, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company) Model Hawker 800XP, 850XP, and 900XP airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review that revealed there were no instructions to apply sealant to structural components in the fuel tank during the winglet installation process. This AD requires an inspection for the presence of sealant on doubler plate edges, doubler plate rivets, and adjacent skin in the fuel vent surge tanks; and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct missing sealant, which, during a lightning strike, could result in a potential source of ignition in a fuel tank and consequent explosion or fire and subsequent in-flight breakup of the airplane.