[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)]
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From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1088]


  Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 1994 /
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[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 18, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 11

                                          Tuesday, January 18, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92-CE-60-AD; Amendment 39-8799; AD 94-02-02]

 

Airworthiness Directives: Rockwell International/Collins Air 
Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to Rockwell International/Air Transport Division (Collins) DME-
700 distance measuring equipment (DME) installed on aircraft. This 
action requires modifying these DME units to ensure they are 
functioning properly. Several reports of the affected DME units failing 
to process and update distance outputs, and reports of these units 
establishing a continuous restart mode upon power application prompted 
this AD. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
improper operation of this equipment, which could result in 
navigational errors.

DATES: Effective February 21, 1994.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of February 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division, 400 Collins 
Road, NE; Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52498. This information may also be 
examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 
800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger A. Souter, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 
946-4134; facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations to include an AD that applies to certain Collins 
DME-700 distance measurement equipment installed on aircraft was 
published in the Federal Register on January 25, 1993 (58 FR 5949). The 
action proposed to require modifying these DME units to ensure that 
they are functioning properly. The proposed modifications would be 
accomplished in accordance with the following Collins service bulletins 
(SB) (1) SB 20, Revision 1, DME-700-34-20, dated August 30, 1991, which 
when incorporated prevents a condition known as ``sleeping DME's''; and 
(2) Collins SB 24, DME-700-34-24, dated May 15, 1992; Collins SB 25, 
DME-700-34-25, dated November 11, 1992; and Collins SB 26, DME-700-34-
26, dated October 21, 1992, as applicable, which when incorporated 
prevent a condition known as ``deaf DME's''.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Based on the comments received, the 
proposal was changed to add a modification that went beyond the scope 
of that which was originally proposed.
    Accordingly, the FAA issued a supplementary NPRM that incorporated 
minor revisions and added the additional modification. The proposed 
actions specified in the Supplemental NPRM would be accomplished in 
accordance with the following, as applicable: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Part Nos. applicable  
  Collins SB/condition            Date               (622-4540-XXX)     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB 20, Revision 1/        Aug. 30, 1991.......  All applicable DME-700  
 Sleeping.                                       Units, -020, -120, with
                                                 serial number 1 through
                                                 4247.                  
SB 25/Deaf and Distance   Nov. 11, 1992.......  All applicable DME-700  
 Jumping.                                        Units, converts -020, -
                                                 021, or -022 to -023.  
                                                 SB 20 most be installed
                                                 prior to or in         
                                                 conjunction with SB 25.
                                                 SB 24 is incorporated  
                                                 by SB 25.              
SB 26/Deaf and Distance   Oct. 21, 1992.......  All applicable DME-700  
 Jumping.                                        Units, converts -120,  
                                                 or -121, to -122. SB 20
                                                 most be installed prior
                                                 to or in conjunction   
                                                 with SB 26. SB 26      
                                                 eliminates the need for
                                                 SB 21.                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Interested persons were again afforded an opportunity to comment on 
the proposed action. Due consideration has been given to the five 
comments received.
    Two commenters concur with the proposed rule as written.
    Another commenter (Collins) states that there are two errors in the 
part numbers referenced in the proposed AD: (1) part number (P/N) 622-
4540-022 was referenced as P/N 622-4540-22 in the Applicability section 
of the AD; and (2) in the chart in paragraph (c) of the proposed AD, 
the sentence that consists of the following words: ``All applicable 
DME-700 Units, Converts -022, -021, or -022 to -023.'' should be 
changed to ``All applicable DME-700 Units, Converts -020, -021, or -022 
to -023.'' The FAA concurs and has changed the proposed AD accordingly.
    One commenter reports that the Airbus Model A330 airplane is not 
yet certificated, and should not be included in the list of affected 
airplane models. The FAA concurs that this airplane is not certificated 
and has deleted it from the list of possible affected airplanes. 
However, the Applicability section of the proposed AD is worded as 
``DME equipment that is installed on, but not limited to, the following 
model airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category:''. 
If this airplane would become certificated for operation with the 
Collins DME-700 equipment, then this action would apply to these 
airplanes.
    Another commenter states that these DME units were never 
certificated on Boeing Model B757 airplanes, and should therefore be 
removed from the applicability of the proposed AD. The FAA concurs and 
has revised the proposed AD accordingly.
    This same commenter suggests several minor editorial revisions and 
corrections to increase the understanding of the proposed AD. The FAA 
concurs that these changes would improve clarity and has revised the 
proposed AD accordingly.
    After careful review of all available information including the 
comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
the changes referenced above and minor editorial corrections. The FAA 
has determined that these changes and corrections will not change the 
meaning of the AD nor add any additional burden upon the public than 
was already proposed.
    The condition specified by the required action is not caused by 
actual hours time-in-service (TIS) of the airplane that the equipment 
is installed in. There is no correlation between improper operation of 
the equipment and the age or number of times the equipment is utilized. 
Based on this, the compliance time of this AD is presented in calendar 
time instead of hours TIS.
    The FAA estimates that 518 DME-700 units installed on airplanes in 
the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take 
approximately 7 workhours per unit to accomplish the required action, 
and that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts 
will be provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the owner/operator. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $199,430. This cost figure is based on the 
assumption that none of the affected airplane owners/operators have 
accomplished the required action.
    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 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 copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ``ADDRESSES''.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 
39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new AD:

94-02-02 Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division: 
Amendment 39-8799; Docket No. 92-CE-60-AD.

    Applicability: DME-700 distance measuring equipment (all serial 
numbers) (part numbers 622-4540-020, 622- 4540-021, 622-4540-022, 
622-4540-120, and 622-4540-121), that is installed on, but not 
limited to, the following model airplanes (all serial numbers), 
certificated in any category: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Manufacturer                             Models              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing.............................  B737, B747-400, and B767.          
McDonnell Douglas..................  MD 80, MD 11.                      
Airbus.............................  A300, A310, A300-600, A320, and    
                                      A340.                             
Fokker.............................  F-100.                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Compliance: Required within the next 12 calendar months after 
the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent improper operation of these DME units, which could 
result in navigational errors, accomplish the following:
    (a) Ensure that Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC) 429 distance 
outputs are processed and updated by modifying the distance 
measuring equipment in accordance with the applicable service 
information presented in the chart in paragraph (c) of this AD.
    (b) Ensure proper initialization and correct DME distance 
indication by modifying the distance measuring equipment in 
accordance with the applicable service information presented in the 
chart in paragraph (c) of this AD.
    (c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be accomplished in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions section of the applicable 
service bulletins (SB) presented in the following chart: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Part Nos. applicable  
  Collins SB/condition            Date               (622-4540-XXX)     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB 20, Revision 1/        Aug. 30, 1991.......  All applicable DME-700  
 Sleeping.                                       Units, -020, -120, with
                                                 serial number 1 through
                                                 4247.                  
SB 25/Deaf, Sleeping,     Nov. 11, 1992.......  All applicable DME-700  
 and Distance Jumping.                           Units, converts -020, -
                                                 021, or -022 to -023.  
                                                 SB 20 must be installed
                                                 prior to or in         
                                                 conjunction with SB 25.
                                                 SB 24 is incorporated  
                                                 by SB 25.              
SB 26/Deaf, Sleeping,     Oct. 21, 1992.......  All applicable DME-700  
 and Distance Jumping.                           Units, converts -120 or
                                                 -121 to -122. SB 20    
                                                 must be installed prior
                                                 to or in conjunction   
                                                 with SB 26. SB 26      
                                                 eliminates the need for
                                                 SB21.                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: The sleeping DME modification referenced in SB 20 was 
incorporated at manufacture beginning with serial number 4248.
    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 
21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate 
FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to 
the Manager, Wichita ACO.
    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita ACO.
    (f) The modifications required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Collins Service Bulletin 20, Revision 1, DME-700-34-
20, dated August 30, 1991; Collins Service Bulletin 25, DME-600-34-
25, dated November 11, 1992; and Collins Service Bulletin 26, DME-
700-34-26, dated October 21, 1992, as applicable. This incorporation 
by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies may be 
obtained from Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division, 
400 Collins Road, NE; Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52498. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (g) This amendment (39-8799) becomes effective on February 21, 
1994.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 11, 1994.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-1088 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
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