[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31490-31491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14537]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-91-AD; Amendment 39-11190; AD 99-12-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal Inc. VN 411B Very High 
Frequency (VHF) Navigation Receivers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
requires replacing certain AlliedSignal Inc. VN 411B VHF navigation 
receivers installed on aircraft if the receivers do not have 
Modification 21 incorporated. This AD is the result of a report of 
navigation receiver interference during landing operations. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to prevent VHF navigation receiver 
interference from frequency modulation (FM) radio station broadcasts, 
which could cause distortion of the navigation audio and deflection of 
the desired flight path of the airplane during landing operations with 
possible loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Effective July 23, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of July 23, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from AlliedSignal, Inc. 23500 W. 105th Street, Olathe, Kansas 66051-
1950. This information may also be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-91-AD, 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 Souter, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4134, facsimile: (316) 
946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain AlliedSignal 
Inc. VN 411B very high frequency (VHF) navigation receivers installed 
in aircraft was published in the Federal Register as a supplement 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 22, 1998 (63 FR 
70698). The supplemental NPRM proposed to require replacing any VHF 
navigation receiver that does not have Modification 21 incorporated 
with one where an AlliedSignal Bendix/King-owned service center has 
incorporated Modification 21. Accomplishment of the proposed action as 
specified in the supplemental NPRM would be in accordance with 
AlliedSignal Bendix/King Service Bulletin VN 411B-21, dated November 
1996.
    The NPRM was the result of a report of navigation receiver 
interference during landing operations.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 19 VHF navigation receivers in the U.S. 
registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 2 
workhours per receiver to accomplish this action, and that the average 
labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The manufacturer is not 
charging the owner/operator for exchanging the navigation receiver unit 
and is offering 2 workhours of labor warranty credit to accomplish this 
action. Based on these figures, this AD imposes no cost impact on U.S. 
operators. The FAA has no way of determining if any of the affected 
airplanes have navigation receivers with Modification 21 incorporated.

Compliance Time of This AD

    The condition specified by this AD is not caused by actual hours 
time-in-service (TIS) of the aircraft where the affected VHF navigation 
receivers are installed. The need for replacing the VHF navigation 
receiver with one that incorporates hardware modifications has no 
correlation to the number of times the equipment is utilized or the age 
of the equipment. For this reason, the compliance time of this AD is 
presented in calendar time instead of hours TIS.

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.
    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

[[Page 31491]]

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 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

99-12-06  AlliedSignal Inc.: Amendment 39-11190; Docket No. 95-CE-
91-AD.

    Applicability: The following very high frequency (VHF) 
navigation receivers that are installed on, but not limited to, 
Learjet Model 31A, Fokker Model F27-50, and British Aerospace Model 
ATP airplanes:

--VN 411B, BPN 3614004-4101, all serial numbers, that are currently 
at Modification Status 18, 19, or 20;
--VN 411B, BPN/KPN 3614004-4101/066-1101-00, all serial numbers, 
that are currently at Modification Status 18, 19, or 20;
--VN 411B, P/N 066-1101-00, serial numbers up to and including 4229, 
that are currently at Modification Status 18, 19, or 20; and
--VN 411B, P/N 066-1101-31/40/50, serial numbers up to and including 
10799, that are currently at Modification Status 19 or 20.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane in which a VHF 
navigation receiver identified in the preceding applicability 
provision has been installed, 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent VHF navigation receiver interference from frequency 
modulation (FM) radio station broadcast frequencies, which could 
cause distortion of the navigation audio and deflection of the 
desired flight path of the airplane during landing operations with 
possible loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 90 calendar days after the effective date of 
this AD or upon replacement or repair of any affected AlliedSignal 
VHF navigation receiver, whichever occurs first, remove the 
navigation receiver and install one where an AlliedSignal Bendix/
King service center has incorporated Modification 21, in accordance 
with AlliedSignal Bendix/King Service Bulletin VN 411B-21, dated 
November 1996.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any airplane, one of the affected VHF navigation receivers that 
does not have Modification 21 incorporated in accordance with 
AlliedSignal Bendix/King Service Bulletin VN 411B-21, dated November 
1996.
    (c) 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 airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) 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, 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.

    (e) The removal and installation required by this AD shall be 
done in accordance with AlliedSignal Bendix/King Service Bulletin VN 
411B-21, dated November 1996. 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 
AlliedSignal, Inc., 23500 W. 105th Street, Olathe, Kansas 66051-
1950. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional 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 becomes effective on July 23, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 2, 1999.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-14537 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P