Department of Transportation April 2, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces that PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety will host four public meetings during 2021 in advance of certain international meetings. The first meeting will be held in preparation of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) Working Group 21 (WG/21) virtual meeting scheduled for May 24-28, 2021. The second meeting will be held in preparation of the 58th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) scheduled for June 28 to July 2, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland. The third meeting will be held in preparation of the ICAO DGP 28 Meeting (DGP/28) scheduled for September 27 to October 1, 2021. The fourth meeting will be held in preparation of the 59th session of the UNSCOE TDG scheduled for November 29 to December 8, 2021. For each of these meetings, PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to the proposed Dublin BoulevardNorth Canyons Parkway Extension Project (Federal-aid project number RTPL-5432(019)) in the cities of Dublin and Livermore, County of Alameda, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This action proposes to reconfigure and expand the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, FL (FLL), Class C airspace area. The FAA is proposing this action to reduce the risk of midair collisions and enhance the efficient management of air traffic operations in the FLL terminal area. Additionally, this action proposes to revoke the Class E airspace extension to the FLL Class C airspace surface area. This proposed action is separate and distinct from the South Florida Metroplex Project. No flight path changes are associated with this proposal.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (type certificate previously held by Rolls-Royce Deutschland GmbH, formerly BMW Rolls- Royce GmbH) (RRD) BR700-710A2-20 model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by flight data obtained from airplanes equipped with certain Rockwell Collins avionics and auto-throttle systems that demonstrated significant oscillation of the engine rotor revolution speed during flight. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive recalculation of the consumed and remaining service life of certain life-limited parts (LLPs). This proposed AD would also require removal of an LLP prior to its approved life limit or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report that the cabin lateral sliding plug door failed its emergency jettisoning test; subsequent investigation revealed that the jettison handle cable interfered with the cable clamps. This AD requires modifying the release system of each cabin lateral sliding plug door, or modifying the design of the jettison system of each cabin lateral sliding plug door, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a failed electrical test during production. This proposed AD would require replacing certain wire harness trim connector backshells (backshells), as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also prohibit installing the affected backshells. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of broken and bent attachment bolts of the main rotor (MR) hub scissors assembly. This AD requires an inspection of the attachment bolts of the MR hub scissors assembly for discrepancies and repair if necessary; part marking of the attachment bolts of the MR hub scissors assembly; and repetitive inspections of the part marking of the attachment bolts, and repair if necessary; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135T1, EC135P2, EC135T2, EC135P2+, EC135T2+, EC135P3, and EC135T3 helicopters. The NPRM was prompted by a deviation from a new manufacturing process and a determination that the deviation resulted in a reduced life limit (service life limit) for certain tail rotor (TR) blades. The NPRM would have required a reduced life limit for those TR blades and require a new life limit for certain other TR blades. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that the deviation from the new manufacturing process does not reduce the life limit of certain TR blades and that a new life limit is not needed for certain other blades. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-8 and 737-9 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during refueling of the right main tank, if there is a failure of the automatic shutoff system, the refueling panel does not provide the required indication that the automatic shutoff has failed. This proposed AD would require installing a new fuel quantity processor unit (FQPU) and doing a FQPU software check. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.