Department of Transportation November 22, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a meeting of the SOCAC.

This action clarifies FAA policy regarding the existing accuracy requirements for the reported geometric altitude of the control station of a standard remote identification unmanned aircraft. The FAA describes one acceptable way producers of unmanned aircraft can meet the minimum performance requirement for the accuracy of the control station's reported geometric altitude. The FAA determined that this action is necessary to inform developers of means of compliance of one potential pathway to meet the performance requirement for the control station's reported geometric altitude.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Stemme AG TSA-M Model S6 and S6-RT gliders. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a new version of the propeller gearbox tooth belt with a reduced life limit. This proposed AD would require establishing a life limit of 5 years for certain propeller gearbox tooth belts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document responds to a petition for reconsideration from Humanetics Innovative Solutions Inc. (HIS) concerning a November 3, 2020 final rule that amended NHTSA's regulation on anthropomorphic test devices to add design and performance specifications for a test dummy representing a 3-year-old child, called the ``Q3s'' test dummy. The Q3s is an instrumented dummy that can assess the performance of child restraint systems in protecting small children in side impacts. The petitioner asks for corrections to hole dimensions and tolerances in a few of the drawings of parts in the dummy torso, because they are in error. This final rule grants the petition and revises the drawing package, parts list, and procedures manual for assembling and inspecting the Q3s.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 430 helicopters. This AD was prompted by an in-flight failure of the main rotor (M/R) pitch link clevis (clevis) due to fatigue damage and excessive wear. This AD requires a visual inspection of the M/R clevis, rod end, and a certain part-numbered universal bearing, performing a purge grease, and performing a magnetic particle inspection of each M/R clevis. Depending on the visual inspection and magnetic particle inspection results, this AD requires removing certain parts from service, replacing certain parts, and performing additional actions. This AD also requires recurring inspections of each M/R clevis and each universal bearing. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.