Department of Transportation March 14, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by one in-service report of a cracked and corroded barrel nut found at the mid-spar location of the horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer attachment joint. There have also been two other reports of corroded barrel nuts found at mid-spar locations. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections of each barrel nut and cradle, a check of the bolt torque of any preload indicating washer (PLI), and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracked and corroded barrel nuts. This condition could compromise the structural integrity of the vertical stabilizer attachment joints, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311(j), as amended by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST), Public Law 114-94 (December 4, 2015). This notice is a national solicitation for project proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for Fiscal Year 2016 projects. FTA may choose to fund the program for more or less than the announcement amount, including applying other funding toward projects proposed in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https:// www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html. Additionally, a synopsis of the funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. The proposed action would have required revising the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to clarify that the Model S-92A helicopter was certificated as a transport category rotorcraft in both Categories A and B with different operating limitations for each category and must be operated accordingly. Since we issued the NPRM, we have determined that operating the helicopter in Category B with 10 or more passenger seats is not an unsafe condition but an inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c). Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule.

The FAA proposes to amend its airworthiness standards for normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes by removing current prescriptive design requirements and replacing them with performance-based airworthiness standards. The proposed standards would also replace the current weight and propulsion divisions in small airplane regulations with performance- and risk-based divisions for airplanes with a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers or less and a maximum takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds or less. The proposed airworthiness standards are based on, and would maintain, the level of safety of the current small airplane regulations. Finally, the FAA proposes to adopt additional airworthiness standards to address certification for flight in icing conditions, enhanced stall characteristics, and minimum control speed to prevent departure from controlled flight for multiengine airplanes. This notice of proposed rulemaking addresses the Congressional mandate set forth in the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013.