[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8617-8618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4662]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-07-AD; Amendment 39-9947; AD 97-05-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal Avionics, Inc. Models GNS-
XLS or GNS-XL Flight Management Systems
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to all owners/operators of aircraft equipped with AlliedSignal
Avionics Inc. (AlliedSignal) Models GNS-XLS or GNS-XL global
positioning systems (GPS) Flight Management Systems. This action
requires inserting a limitation into the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)
or Flight Manual Supplement Limitations Section prohibiting the use of
these AlliedSignal GPS units on previously published non-precision
approaches. This action is prompted by recent reports of flight course
deviations because of erroneous information provided by the GPS Flight
Management System. The actions specified by this AD are intended to
prevent deviation from an intended flight path during a non-precision
approach to an airport.
DATES: Effective March 18, 1997.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before April 18, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 97-CE-07-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jose Flores, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-
4133, facsimile (316) 946-4407.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
AlliedSignal recently notified the FAA that their global
positioning system (GPS) Flight Management System Models GNS-XLS and
GNS-XL are malfunctioning. The AlliedSignal Models GNS-XLS and GNS-XL
are used to determine the flight course of an airplane for previously
published non-precision approaches to an airport. The GPS flight
management system is integrated into the software of the flight
management system recorder (black box) in the airplane. These GNS-XLS
and GNS-XL GPS can be installed on, but are not limited to the
following airplanes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer Models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Aerospace, Ltd. (BAe).......... 146-100A and
146-200A.
Cessna Aircraft Corporation............ 525, 550,
and 560.
Dausault Aviation...................... Mystere-Falcon
20 and 50.
Avions Marcel Dassault................. Falcon 10.
Gulfstream Aerospace................... G-1159 (G-II)
and G-1159A
(G-III).
Raytheon Corporate Jets................ Hawker 800.
Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd........ 1124.
Sabreliner Corporation................. NA-65.
Learjet Inc............................ 35.
Jetstream Aircraft Ltd................. 4101.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Problems arose with these GPS flight management systems units after
an installation of a GNS-XLS unit for certification in a Cessna Model
550 airplane. During this flight certification, the AlliedSignal Model
GNS-XLS GPS provided erroneous information to the Flight Management
System which caused the airplane to deviate from the previously
published non-precision approach. Further investigation with flight
tests on other airplane models confirmed this software malfunction. The
manufacturer conducted bench tests on these models, and was also
successful in duplicating the deviation occurring within the GPS flight
management software while it is used in a previously published non-
precision approach situation. The tests also showed that this
malfunction is only randomly occurring approximately 20 percent of the
time.
The FAA's Determination
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, including the
relevant service information, the FAA has determined that AD action
should be taken to prevent deviation of an intended flight path during
a non-precision approach to an airport.
Explanation of the Provisions of the AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other AlliedSignal Models GNS-XLS and GNS-XL GPS
Flight Management Systems of the same type design, this AD requires
inserting the following limitation into the Operations Limitations
Section of the AFM or Flight Manual Supplement:
Operating Limitations
The GNS-XL (or GNS-XLS) is not approved for non-precision
approaches.
Note
The GNS-XL (or GNS-XLS) may generate misleading information
during non-precision GPS or Overlay approaches due to software
limitations.
The FAA and AlliedSignal are currently working together toward an
approved revision to the software problem on these GPS Flight
Management System units.
Compliance Time of this AD
The compliance time of this AD is in calendar time instead of hours
time-in-service (TIS). The average daily usage of the affected
airplanes will have different ranges throughout the fleets. For
example, one owner may operate the airplane 5 hours TIS in one day,
while another operator may operate the airplane 5 hours TIS in one
week. In order to ensure that all of the owners/operators of the
affected airplanes have the chance to insert the limitation into the
operating limitations of their Airplane Flight Manual or Flight Manual
Supplement within a reasonable amount of time, the FAA is setting a
compliance time of within the next 5 days after the effective date of
this AD.
Determination of the Effective Date of the AD
Since a situation exists (misleading flight course information to
the pilot during non-precision approaches) that requires the immediate
adoption of this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity
for public prior comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause
exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves
requirements
[[Page 8618]]
affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by notice
and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on this rule.
Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by submitting
such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted
in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications
received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered,
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 97-CE-07-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Regulatory Impact
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.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe
condition in aircraft, and is not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action
involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that
this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules
Docket.
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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
97-05-03 ALLIEDSIGNAL AVIONICS INC.: Amendment 39-9947; Docket No.
97-CE-07-AD.
Applicability: Models GNS-XLS and GNS-XL global positioning
systems, part numbers (P/N) 17960-0102-XXXX and P/N 18355-0101-XXXX
respectively, installed on, but not limited to the following
airplanes, certificated in any category.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer Models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Aerospace, Ltd. (BAe).......... 146-100A and 146-200A.
Cessna Aircraft Corporation............ 525, 550, and 560.
Dausault Aviation...................... Mystere-Falcon 20 and 50.
Avions Marcel Dassault................. Falcon 10.
Gulfstream Aerospace................... G-1159 (G-II) and G-1159A (G-
III).
Raytheon Corporate Jets................ Hawker 800.
Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd........ 1124.
Sabreliner Corporation................. NA-65.
Learjet Inc............................ 35.
Jetstream Aircraft Ltd................. 4101.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane 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 airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 5 days after the effective
date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent deviation of the intended flight path during a non-
precision approach to an airport, accomplish the following:
(a) Insert the following limitation into the Operations
Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or Flight
Manual Supplement:
Operating Limitations
The GNS-XL (or GNS-XLS) is not approved for non-precision
approaches.
Note
The GNS-XL (or GNS-XLS) may generate misleading information
during non-precision GPS or Overlay approaches due to software
limitations.
(b) Inserting a copy of this AD into the Limitations section as
described in paragraph (a) of this AD is considered compliance with
the requirements of this AD.
(c) Incorporating the AFM revisions, as required by this AD, may
be performed by the owner/operator holding at least a private pilot
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft
records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section
43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 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 Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.
(e) Copies of this AD 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.
(f) This amendment (39-9947) becomes effective on March 18,
1997.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 19, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4662 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
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