Department of Transportation 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005-15-04 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL- 601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. AD 2005-15-04 required operators to assign serial numbers or part numbers to certain landing gear parts; establish the number of landings on the parts, if necessary; and revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to reflect the new life limits of the landing gear parts. This new AD adds airplanes to the applicability, requires operators to assign serial numbers or part numbers to certain additional landing gear parts to establish the number of landings on the parts if necessary, and requires operators to record in all required airplane technical records and manuals the new part numbers, serial numbers, and landings assigned to these parts. This AD was prompted by reports that landing gear parts that have safe-life limits but do not have serial numbers or part numbers can be removed from one landing gear and re-installed on another, making tracking difficult. We are issuing this AD to prevent life-limited landing gear parts from being used beyond their safe-life limits, which could lead to collapse of the landing gear.

This document initiates rulemaking that would propose to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), FMVSS No. 150, to require vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capability for light vehicles (passenger cars and light truck vehicles (LTVs)) and to create minimum performance requirements for V2V devices and messages. The agency believes that requiring V2V communication capability in new light vehicles would facilitate the development and introduction of a number of advanced vehicle safety applications. Some crash warning V2V applications, like Intersection Movement Assist (IMA) and Left Turn Assist (LTA), rely on V2V-based messages to obtain information to detect and then warn drivers of possible safety risks in situations where other technologies have less capability. Both of those applications address intersection crashes, which are among the most deadly crashes that U.S. drivers currently face. NHTSA believes that V2V capability will not develop absent regulation, because there would not be any immediate safety benefits for consumers who are early adopters of V2V. V2V begins to provide safety benefits only if a significant number of vehicles in the fleet are equipped with it and if there is a means to ensure secure and reliable communication between vehicles. NHTSA believes that no single manufacturer would have the incentive to build vehicles able to ``talk'' to other vehicles, if there are no other vehicles to talk toleading to likely market failure without the creation of a mandate to induce collective action. Through this ANPRM, and through the accompanying technical report, ``Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications: Readiness of V2V Technology for Application,'' NHTSA presents the results of its initial research efforts. In this report, NHTSA has done a very preliminary estimate of the costs of V2V and the benefits for two V2V-based safety applications, IMA and LTA, for addressing intersection crashes and left-turning crashes, respectively. The report also explores technical, legal, security, and privacy issues related to the implementation of V2V. NHTSA seeks comment on the research report, and solicits additional information, data, and analysis that will aid the agency in developing an effective proposal to require new light vehicles to be V2V-capable. By mandating V2V technology in all new vehicles, but not requiring specific safety applications, it is NHTSA's belief that such capability will in turn facilitate market-driven development and introduction of a variety of safety applications, as well as mobility and environment-related applications that can potentially save drivers both time and fuel.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 81-09-09, which applies to certain Meggitt (Troy), Inc. (previously known as Stewart Warner South Wind Corporation and as Stewart Warner South Wind Division) Model Series 8240 (Models 8240-A, 8240-C, 8240E, and 8248), 8253 (Models 8253-A, 8253-B, and 8253-C), 8259 (Models 8259-A, 8259-C, 8259-DL, 8259HL2, 8259HR2, 8259JR2, 8259L, and 8259M), and 8472 (Models 8472C and 8472D) combustion heaters. AD 81-09-09 currently requires repetitive inspections of the combustion heater; repetitive general inspections of the combustion heater installation; and, for combustion heaters having 1,000 hours or more time-in-service (TIS), overhaul of the combustion heater. Since we issued AD 81-09-09, there was an airplane accident, and we received reports of the heater malfunction. This proposed AD would retain most actions from AD 81-09-09, add a calendar time to the repetitive inspections, and add more detailed actions for the general inspection. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the sixth meeting of the RTCA Tactical Operations Committee.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering how to implement Section 213(c)(2) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 which directs the FAA to issue and file a categorical exclusion for any navigation performance or other performance based navigation (PBN) procedure that would result in measureable reductions in fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and noise on a per flight basis as compared to aircraft operations that follow existing instrument flight rule procedures in the same airspace. In September 2012, the FAA tasked the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) for assistance, especially on how measurable reductions in noise on a per flight basis might be measured and assessed. The NAC developed a Net Noise Reduction Method which it recommended to the FAA. This notice provides the public an opportunity to comment on the Net Noise Reduction Method and possible variations of it to further inform the FAA's consideration of interpretive guidance to implement Section 213(c)(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.

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 announces that the Agency is exploring the feasibility of conducting a negotiated rulemaking (Reg Neg) concerning entry-level training for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Specifically, the Agency is exploring a Reg Neg to implement the entry-level driver training (ELDT) provisions in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The FMCSA has hired a convener to speak with interested parties about the feasibility of conducting of an ELDT Reg Neg. FMCSA anticipates that these interested parties may include driver organizations, CMV training organizations, motor carriers (of property and passengers) and industry associations, State licensing agencies, State enforcement agencies, labor unions, safety advocacy groups, and insurance companies.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Cooper), has determined that certain Cooper light truck tires do not fully comply with paragraph S6.4 of Federal Motor Tire Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and Motorcycles. Cooper has filed an appropriate report dated December 6, 2013 pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

These special conditions are issued for the modification of the Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135 series helicopters. These model helicopters will have a novel or unusual design feature after installation of the S-TEC Corporation (S- TEC) HeliSAS helicopter autopilot/stabilization augmentation system (AP/SAS) that has potential failure conditions with more severe adverse consequences than those envisioned by the existing applicable airworthiness regulations. These special conditions contain the added safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to ensure the failures and their effects are sufficiently analyzed and contained.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of in-flight uncommanded rudder movements. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate an uncommanded yaw motion procedure. We are issuing this AD to prevent in- flight uncommanded rudder movements, which could lead to structural failure and subsequent loss of the airplane.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2013-12-01 for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 turbofan engines. AD 2013-12-01 required a one-time ultrasonic inspection (UI) of low-pressure (LP) compressor blades with more than 2,500 flight cycles since new or last inspection. This AD requires initial and repetitive UIs of the affected LP compressor blades. This AD was prompted by LP compressor blade partial airfoil release events. We are issuing this AD to prevent LP compressor blade airfoil separations, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes; and Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by the revision of certain airworthiness limitation items (ALI) documents, which require more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate the limitations section. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking, damage, or corrosion in principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T Variant), and CL-215-6B11 (CL-415 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by several reports indicating that shorter nacelle strut bushings were inadvertently installed on certain airplanes. This AD requires a general visual inspection of the left and right nacelle upper strut bushings; installation of the bolts and preload indicating (PLI) washers, if necessary; and replacement of the bushing or repair of the bushing installation, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct inadequate nacelle strut bushings, which provide insufficient engagement in the strut fork end, and could deform under the bearing load and lead to the failure of the joint.

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 fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. We are proposing this AD to prevent potential ignition sources within the fuel system, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model EC135P1, EC135T1, EC135P2, EC135T2, EC135P2+, EC135T2+, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain washers for movement and making appropriate repairs if the washers move. This proposed AD is prompted by play found between the Smart Electro Mechanical Actuator (SEMA) and the control rod during installation work on a helicopter. The proposed actions are intended to prevent loss of concerned control axis and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2014-04- 14 for AgustaWestland Model A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2014-04-14 currently requires removing certain rod end assemblies from service because of reports of fractures. Since we issued AD 2014-04-14, additional fractured rod end assemblies have been reported. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2014-04- 14 but expand the scope of applicable rod end assemblies. These proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of a rod end assembly, which could result in damage to the main rotor assembly and loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes that would supersede AD 2012-26-16. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 a need to incorporate new revisions into the Limitations section, Chapter 4, of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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.

The Board is granting an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) to construct an approximately 114-mile high-speed passenger rail line between Fresno and Bakersfield, California (the Line). The Line would be the second section of the statewide California High-Speed Train System. This exemption is subject to environmental mitigation conditions and the condition that the Authority build the route designated as environmentally preferable.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of loose bolts that are intended to secure the translating door crank assembly to the outside handle shaft. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for loose bolts on the aft translating door crank assembly, and removal and reinstallation of the bolts. We are proposing this AD to prevent loose bolts from falling out. If both bolts become loose or fall out after the door is closed and locked, the door cannot be opened from inside or outside, which could impede evacuation in the event of an emergency.

General Motors, LLC (GM) has determined that certain model year 2013 Cadillac XTS passenger cars do not fully comply with paragraph S9.1.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. GM has filed an appropriate report dated May 16, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.