This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

51593

Vol. 62, No. 191

Thursday, October 2, 1997

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 602

RIN 3052–AB77

Releasing Information; Effective Date

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Notice of effective date.

SUMMARY: The Farm Credit

Administration (FCA) published a final

rule under part 602 on August 1, 1997

(62 FR 41253). The final rule amends

the regulations governing the release of

information. The objective of the final

rule is to conform applicable FCA

regulations to the requirements of the

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5

U.S.C. 552, as amended by the

Electronic Freedom of Information Act

Amendments of 1996, Pub. L. 104–231,

and to clarify the address of the FCA

official who receives FOIA requests for

records. In accordance with 12 U.S.C.

2252, the effective date of the final rule

is 30 days from the date of publication

in the Federal Register during which

either or both Houses of Congress are in

session. Based on the records of the

sessions of Congress, the effective date

of the regulations is October 2, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The regulation

amending 12 CFR part 602 published on

August 1, 1997 (62 FR 41253) is

effective October 2, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Hays, Policy Analyst, Policy

Development and Risk Control, Farm

Credit Administration, McLean, VA

22102–5090, (703) 883–4498;

or

Jane Virga, Senior Attorney, Office of

General Counsel, Farm Credit

Administration, McLean, VA 22102–

5090, (703) 883–4020, TDD (703) 883–

4444.

(12 U.S.C. 2252(a) (9) and (10))

Dated: September 29, 1997.

Floyd Fithian,

Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.

[FR Doc. 97–26162 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6705–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–SW–30–AD; Amendment

39–10149; AD 97–20–12]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell

Douglas Helicopter Systems Model

MD–900 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to McDonnell Douglas

Helicopter Systems (MDHS) Model MD–

900 helicopters, that requires removing

certain serial-numbered main rotor

swashplate bearings (bearings) and

replacing them with airworthy bearings.

This amendment is prompted by reports

that inspections of several helicopters

revealed that the outer bearing race had

been rotating relative to the swashplate

assembly, which was evidenced by wear

marks in the rotating swashplate. The

actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent possible heat

accumulation and resulting damage to

the bearing caused by the bearing races

rotating relative to the bearing seat,

which could result in degraded

helicopter response to pilot control

input and possible loss of control of the

helicopter.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 6, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Greg DiLibero, Aerospace Engineer,

FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office, 3960 Paramount Blvd.,

Lakewood, California 90712, telephone

(310) 627–5231, fax (310) 627–5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to MDHS Model MD–

900 helicopters was published in the

Federal Register on January 29, 1997

(62 FR 4217). That action proposed to

require, before further flight, inspecting

the bearing, part number (P/N)

900C3010100–101, to determine if a

bearing having serial number (S/N)

059150–E0019, S/N 059150–E0020, S/N

059150–E0021, S/N 059150–E0022, S/N

059150–E0023, S/N 059150–E0024, S/N

059150–E0025, S/N 059150–E0026, S/N

059150–E0027, S/N 059150–E0028, S/N

059150–E0029, or S/N 059150–E0030 is

installed; and, if installed, removing and

replacing that bearing with an airworthy

bearing.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were received on the

proposal or the FAA’s determination of

the cost to the public. The FAA has

determined that air safety and the

public interest require the adoption of

the rule as proposed, with two changes.

The FAA has determined that special

flight permits may be issued to operate

the helicopter to a location where the

requirements of this AD can be

accomplished. This is now stated in

paragraph (i) of the AD. Also, the FAA

has determined that this AD should

only apply to the Model MD–900

helicopters, not the Model MD–900

‘‘series’’ helicopters. Therefore, the

word ‘‘series’’ is removed from the

applicability paragraph of this AD. The

FAA has determined that these changes

will neither increase the economic

burden on any operator nor increase the

scope of the AD.

The FAA estimates that 20 helicopters

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD, that it will take approximately 1.5

work hours per helicopter to determine

the bearing’s S/N, 12 work hours per

helicopter to remove and replace a

bearing, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Replacement

bearings would cost $8,765 per

helicopter, however, replacement

bearings are covered by a

manufacturer’s warranty. Based on these

figures, the total cost impact of the AD

on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$5,400, assuming five helicopters will

require removal and replacement of the

bearing.

The regulations adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects on the

States, on the relationship between the

national government and the States, or

on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various
51594 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

levels of government. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612,

it is determined that this final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3)

will not have a significant economic

impact, positive or negative, on a

substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive to

read as follows:

97–20–12 McDonnell Douglas Helicopter

Systems: Amendment 39–10149. Docket

No. 96–SW–30–AD.

Applicability: Model MD–900 helicopters,

certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

helicopters that have been modified, altered,

or repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must use the authority

provided in paragraph (h) to request approval

from the FAA. This approval may address

either no action, if the current configuration

eliminates the unsafe condition, or different

actions necessary to address the unsafe

condition described in this AD. Such a

request should include an assessment of the

effect of the changed configuration on the

unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no

case does the presence of any modification,

alteration, or repair remove any helicopter

from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required before further flight,

unless accomplished previously.

To prevent possible heat accumulation and

resulting damage to the main rotor

swashplate bearing (bearing) caused by the

bearing races rotating relative to the bearing

seat, which could result in degraded

helicopter response to pilot control input and

possible loss of control of the helicopter,

accomplish the following:

(a) Disconnect the lower end of the main

rotor pitch links. Disconnecting the drive

link may make the inspection easier.

(b) Cut the safety wire and remove the

inner and outer labyrinth seals, part number

(P/N) 900C2010194–101 and P/N

900C201190–101, respectively, and the inner

and outer bearing retaining rings.

(c) Inspect the bearing, part number (P/N)

900C3010100–101, to determine if it has one

of the following serial numbers (S/N): S/N

059150–E0019, S/N 059150–E0020, S/N

059150–E0021, S/N 059150–E0022, S/N

059150–E0023, S/N 059150–E0024, S/N

059150–E0025, S/N 059150–E0026, S/N

059150–E0027, S/N 059150–E0028, S/N

059150–E0029, or S/N 059150–E0030.

Note 2: S/N’s similar to those above were

produced without the character ‘‘E’’ in the

number. This AD is only concerned with

those that contain the character ‘‘E’’.

(d) Enter into the helicopter Log Book the

bearing S/N.

(e) If a bearing having one of the S/N’s

stated in paragraph (c) of this AD is installed

on the helicopter, remove the bearing and

replace it with an airworthy bearing prior to

further flight.

(f) Prior to the installation of a swashplate

assembly, inspect the bearing in accordance

with the requirements of this AD.

(g) Report the results of all inspections

required by this AD within 72 hours to the

Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood,

California 90712. Reporting requirements

have been approved by the Office of

Management and Budget and assigned OMB

control number 2120–0056.

(h) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA.

Operators shall submit their requests through

an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,

who may concur or comment and then send

it to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office.

(i) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

(j) This amendment becomes effective on

November 6, 1997.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September

24, 1997.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–25970 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–94–AD; Amendment 39–

10150; AD 97–20–14]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Mitsubishi

Heavy Industries, Ltd., MU–2B Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to all Mitsubishi Heavy

Industries, Ltd. (Mitsubishi) MU–2B

series airplanes. This AD requires

incorporating information into the

Limitations Section of the Airplane

Flight Manual (AFM) that would require

pilot training before flight into known or

forecast icing conditions after a certain

date. This AD results from the Federal

Aviation Administration’s analysis that

the current training level of the pilotsin-command (PIC) of the MU–2B series

airplanes makes it difficult for pilots to

recognize adverse operating conditions

and operate safely while flying in icing

conditions. Similar training to that

required in this AD for pilots of other

high performance airplanes has shown a

lower accident rate over time after the

training than before. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

decrease the chance of icing-related

incidents or accidents of the MU–2B

series airplanes due to pilot error.

DATES: Effective October 17, 1997.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

November 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–94–

AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Information related to this AD may be

examined at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

John Dow, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,