Department of Transportation March 31, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TFE731-4, -4R, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a report of certain interstage turbine transition (ITT) ducts failing to meet containment capability requirements. This AD requires replacing certain ITT ducts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the ITT duct, which could lead to an uncontained part release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

In this final rule, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is adopting regulatory amendments applicable to the reverse logistics shipments of certain hazardous materials by highway transportation. This final rule revises the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to include a definition of ``reverse logistics'' and provides appropriate provisions for hazardous materials within the scope of this definition. This final rule also expands a previously existing exception for return shipments of used automobile batteries transported between a retail facility and a recycling center. The PHMSA incorporated recommendations from petitions for rulemaking and public comment into this rulemaking.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the upper chords of the upper deck floor beams are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks at the floor panel attachment fastener holes; repetitive inspections for cracks in the upper and lower chords of the upper deck floor beams at permanent fastener locations; repetitive inspections for cracks in certain repaired and modified areas; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires repetitive replacement of the upper chords of the upper deck floor beams, including pre-replacement inspections and corrective action if necessary; and post-replacement repetitive inspections and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the upper chords of the upper deck floor beams. Undetected cracking could result in large deflection or deformation of the upper deck floor beams, resulting in damage to wire bundles and control cables for the flight control system, and reduced controllability of the airplane. Multiple adjacent severed floor beams could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-07-04R1 for certain Model S-92A helicopters. AD 2014-07-04R1 required repetitive inspections in the upper deck area for incorrectly installed clamps and chafing between the electrical wires and the hydraulic lines and replacing any unairworthy wires or hydraulic lines. This new AD requires altering the wiring system in the upper deck area to correct the unsafe condition described in AD 2014-07-04R1. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire in an area of the helicopter without extinguishing capability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.