[Federal Register: August 21, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 163)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 49368-49371]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au08-17]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0899; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-022-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell Flight Management Systems
(FMSs) Equipped with Honeywell NZ-2000 Navigation Computers and
Honeywell IC-800 or IC-800E Integrated Avionics Computers; as Installed
on Various Transport Category Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to all Honeywell FMSs served by Honeywell
NZ-2000 navigation computers and IC-800 integrated avionics computers.
The existing AD currently requires identifying affected computers by
part number and software modification level and revising the
Limitations section of applicable airplane flight manuals to provide
procedures for retaining optimum position determination and intended
navigation. This proposed AD would require uploading new software,
which would terminate the existing requirements. This proposed AD
results from reports of in-flight unannunciated shifts of computed
position in airplanes with the subject FMS computers. We are proposing
this AD to prevent a shift in the FMS computed position, which could
result in uncommanded deviations from the intended flight path of the
airplane and, if those deviations are undetected by the flight crew,
compromised terrain/traffic avoidance.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 6, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
[[Page 49369]]
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Honeywell,
P.O. Box 21111, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1111.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Kirk Baker, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5345; fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0899;
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-022-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
On March 23, 2007, we issued AD 2007-07-12, amendment 39-15009 (72
FR 15818, April 3, 2007), for all Honeywell flight management systems
(FMSs) served by Honeywell NZ-2000 navigation computers and IC-800
integrated avionics computers. That AD requires identifying affected
computers by part number and software modification level and revising
the Limitations section of applicable airplane flight manuals (AFM) to
provide procedures for retaining optimum position determination and
intended navigation. That AD resulted from reports of in-flight
unannunciated shifts of computed position in airplanes with the subject
FMS computers. We issued that AD to prevent a shift in the FMS computed
position, which could result in uncommanded deviations from the
intended flight path of the airplane and, if those deviations are
undetected by the flight crew, compromised terrain/traffic avoidance.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
The preamble to AD 2007-07-12 specified that we considered the
requirements ``interim action'' and that the manufacturer was
developing a modification to address the unsafe condition. That AD
explained that we might consider further rulemaking if a modification
is developed, approved, and available. The manufacturer now has
developed such a modification, and we have determined that further
rulemaking is indeed necessary; this proposed AD follows from that
determination.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Honeywell Alert Service Bulletin 7017300-22-A6112,
dated June 22, 2007. This service bulletin describes procedures for
uploading new software in a certain IC-800 or IC-800E integrated
avionic computer (IAC), as applicable. We also have reviewed Honeywell
Alert Service Bulletins 7018879-34-A6060, Revision 001, dated January
21, 2008; 7018879-34-6061, Revision 001, dated January 21, 2008;
7018879-34-A6062, dated June 12, 2007; and 7018879-34-A6063, dated July
6, 2007. These service bulletins describe procedures for uploading new
software in certain NZ-2000 navigation computers (NAV computer).
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other products of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2007-07-12 and would retain the requirements of the
existing AD. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in service bulletins described previously, which would
constitute terminating action for the retained requirements.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletins
Although the service bulletins recommend installing the new
software ``as manpower and material are available,'' we have determined
that this imprecise compliance time would not address the identified
unsafe condition in a timely manner. In developing an appropriate
compliance time for this AD, we considered not only the manufacturer's
recommendation, but the degree of urgency associated with addressing
the subject unsafe condition, the average utilization of the affected
fleet, and the time necessary to upload the new software. In light of
all of these factors, we find a compliance time of 12 months for
completing the proposed actions to be warranted, in that it represents
an appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to
operate without compromising safety.
Change to Existing AD
We find that Honeywell Model IC-800E IAC was not specifically
identified by model name in the applicability of AD 2007-07-12.
However, that IAC was identified by manufacturer's part number 7017300-
56023 in the effectivity listing of Honeywell Technical Newsletter A23-
6111-008, Revision 001, dated February 22, 2007, which was referenced
in AD 2007-07-12 as the appropriate source of service information for
accomplishing the required actions. Therefore, we have revised the
applicability of this proposed AD to specifically reference Model IC-
800E IAC in addition to Model IC-800 IAC, where appropriate.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 104 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
[[Page 49370]]
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hour Average labor Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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AFM revision (required by AD 1 $80 $80 77 $6,160
2007-07-12)....................
Terminating action (new proposed 1 80 80 77 6,160
action)........................
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Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing amendment 39-15009 (72 FR 15818, April 3, 2007) and adding the
following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Honeywell, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2008-0899; Directorate Identifier
2008-NM-022-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by October
6, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-07-12.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Honeywell NZ-2000 navigation
computers and Honeywell IC-800 or IC-800E integrated avionics
computers; as installed on transport category airplanes,
certificated in any category, including but not limited to the
airplanes identified in Table 1 of this AD.
Table 1--Known Affected Airplanes
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Manufacturer Model
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Bombardier, Inc.............. CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-
604) airplanes.
Dassault Aviation............ Mystere-Falcon 900 airplanes.
Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A and GV airplanes, and G-IV series
Corporation. airplanes.
Lockheed..................... 382G series airplanes.
Hawker Beechcraft (formerly BAe.125 Series 800A (including C-29A and
Raytheon Aircraft Company). U-125) airplanes.
Hawker 800XP and 1000 airplanes.
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Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from in-flight unannunciated shifts of
computed position in airplanes with the subject flight management
system (FMS) computers identified in paragraph (c) of this AD. We
are issuing this AD to prevent a shift in the FMS computed position,
which could result in uncommanded deviations from the intended
flight path of the airplane and, if those deviations are undetected
by the flight crew, compromised terrain/traffic avoidance.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Requirements of AD 2007-07-12
Identification of Part Number/Modification Level
(f) Within 14 days after April 18, 2007 (the effective date of
AD 2007-07-12): Determine if the installed NZ-2000 navigation
computers and IC-800 or IC-800E integrated avionics computers
serving FMSs have computer part numbers and software modification
levels identified in Honeywell Technical Newsletter A23-6111-008,
Revision 001, dated February 22, 2007. For purposes of this AD,
airplanes with FMS computers having a part number and software
modification level identified in the newsletter are ``affected
airplanes.''
Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)
(g) For any affected airplane: Within 14 days after April 18,
2007, revise the Limitations section of the applicable AFM to
incorporate the information included in Appendix A of Honeywell
Technical
[[Page 49371]]
Newsletter A23-6111-008, Revision 001, dated February 22, 2007. This
may be done by inserting a copy of Appendix A of the newsletter into
the AFM.
New Requirements of This AD
Terminating Action
(h) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, upload
applicable software as specified in Table 2 of this AD. After
uploading the applicable software, the requirements of paragraphs
(f) and (g) of this AD are no longer necessary, and the AFM revision
required by paragraph (g) of this AD may be removed.
Table 2--Terminating Action
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In accordance with
Upload new software in-- the Accomplishment For--
Instructions of--
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(1) The IC-800 or IC-800E Honeywell Alert The IAC identified
integrated avionic computer Service Bulletin in the service
(IAC), as applicable. 7017300-22-A6112, bulletin.
dated June 22, 2007.
(2) The NZ-2000 navigation Honeywell Alert The NAV computer
computer (NAV computer). Service Bulletin identified in the
7018879-34-A6060, service bulletin.
Revision 001, dated
January 21, 2008.
Honeywell Service The NAV computer
Bulletin 7018879-34- identified in the
6061, Revision 001, service bulletin.
dated January 21,
2008.
Honeywell Alert The NAV computer
Service Bulletin identified in the
7018879-34-A6062, service bulletin.
dated June 12, 2007.
Honeywell Alert The NAV computer
Service Bulletin identified in the
7018879-34-A6063, service bulletin.
dated July 6, 2007.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
FAA, ATTN: J. Kirk Baker, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment
Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone
(562) 627-5345; fax (562) 627-5210; has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 6, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19361 Filed 8-20-08; 8:45 am]
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