[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56159-56161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26865]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-25-AD; Amendment 39-11374; AD 99-21-28]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A319, A320, A321, A330, 
and A340 Series Airplanes Equipped With AlliedSignal RIA-35B Instrument 
Landing System Receivers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, A321, A330, and 
A340 series airplanes, that currently requires revising the Airplane 
Flight Manual (AFM) to require the flightcrew to discontinue use of any 
Instrument Landing System (ILS) receiver for which a certain caution 
message is displayed. It also requires, for certain airplanes, 
replacing any faulty ILS receiver with a new, serviceable, or modified 
unit, and provides for optional terminating action for the AFM 
revisions. This amendment requires accomplishment of the previous 
optional terminating action. This amendment is prompted by a pilot's 
report of errors in the glide slope deviation provided by an ILS 
receiver. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and 
correct faulty ILS receivers and to ensure that the flightcrew is 
advised of the potential hazard of performing ILS approaches using a 
localizer deviation from a faulty ILS receiver, and advised of the 
procedures necessary to address that hazard. An erroneous localizer 
deviation could result in a landing outside the lateral boundary of the 
runway.

DATES: Effective November 22, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of November 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from AlliedSignal Aerospace, Technical Publications, Dept. 65-
70, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170. This information may 
be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.


[[Page 56160]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 98-17-05, 
amendment 39-10707 (63 FR 43294, August 13, 1998), which is applicable 
to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series 
airplanes, was published in the Federal Register on August 17, 1999 (64 
FR 44663). The action proposed to supersede AD 98-17-05 to continue to 
require the flightcrew to discontinue use of any ILS receiver for which 
a certain caution message is displayed. For certain airplanes, the 
action proposed to continue to require replacement of any faulty ILS 
receiver with a new, serviceable, or modified unit. The action proposed 
to add a new requirement for replacement of all existing RIA-35B ILS 
receivers with modified parts, which would constitute terminating 
action for the AFM revisions.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the single comment received.
    The commenter supports the proposed rule.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 191 airplanes of U.S. registry that will be 
affected by this AD.
    The AFM revision that is currently required by AD 98-17-05, and 
retained in this AD, takes approximately 1 work hour per airplane to 
accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the currently required actions on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $11,460, or $60 per airplane.
    The new replacement that is required by this AD action will take 
approximately 5 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately 
$157 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
replacement required by this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$87,287, or $457 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this 
AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted.

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 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, 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 removing amendment 39-10707 (63 FR 
43294, August 13, 1998), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-11374, to read as follows:

99-21-28  Airbus Industrie: Amendment 39-11374. Docket 99-NM-25-AD. 
Supersedes AD 98-17-05, Amendment 39-10707.

    Applicability: Model A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with AlliedSignal 
RIA-35B Instrument Landing System (ILS) receivers, part number (P/N) 
066-50006-0202; excluding airplanes on which RIA-35B ILS receiver P/
N 066-50006-1202 [Airbus Modification 27251 (for Model A319, A320, 
and A321 series airplanes) or Modification 46264 (for Model A330 and 
A340 series airplanes)] has been installed.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise 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, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To detect and correct faulty ILS receivers and to ensure that 
the flightcrew is advised of the potential hazard of performing ILS 
approaches using a localizer deviation from a faulty ILS receiver, 
and advised of the procedures necessary to address that hazard, 
accomplish the following:

Restatement of Actions Required By AD 98-17-05, Amendment 39-10707

    (a) Within 10 days after August 28, 1998 (the effective date of 
AD 98-17-05, amendment 39-10707), accomplish the requirements of 
paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Revise the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane 
Flight Manual (AFM) to include the following statement. This may be 
accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM.
    ``Instrument Landing (ILS) 1(2) Fault
    ``If `ILS 1(2) FAULT,' electronic centralized aircraft monitor 
(ECAM) caution, is triggered at any time during the flight, the 
affected ILS receiver must be considered as no longer available 
until it is replaced, and the flight crew must make the appropriate 
entry in the aircraft maintenance log prior to the next flight.
    ``During an ILS or LOC approach, the glide slope deviation and 
localizer deviation from ILS receivers 1 and 2 must be monitored and 
compared. If a discrepancy between the glide slope deviation and/or 
localizer deviation provided by ILS receivers 1 and 2 is 
experienced, interrupt the ILS approach.
    ``Do not conduct ILS or LOC approaches using a single ILS 
receiver.
    ``If ILS 1 has experienced an unannunciated failure there may be 
late or

[[Page 56161]]

false ground proximity warning system (GPWS) alerts/callouts. 
Affected GPWS features may include sink rate alerts, glide slope 
deviation alerts, and altitude callouts.''
    (2) Following accomplishment of the AFM revision required by 
paragraph (a)(1) of this AD, if a caution message reading ``ILS 1 
FAULT,'' ``ILS 2 FAULT,'' or ``ILS 1+2 FAULT'' is displayed 
intermittently or continuously on ECAM during any portion of any 
flight: Within 10 days after the message is first displayed, remove 
the faulty ILS receiver and install either a new or serviceable part 
that has the same P/N as the ILS receiver that was removed from the 
airplane or a part that has been modified in accordance with 
AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 
(RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998.

    Note 2: The ECAM messages described in paragraph (a)(2) of this 
AD, when displayed to the pilot, are normally preceded by ``NAV'' 
indicating a fault in the navigation system.

    (b) As of August 28, 1998, no person shall install on any 
airplane an AlliedSignal RIA-35B ILS receiver, P/N 066-50006-0202, 
that has been found to be discrepant [that is, an ILS receiver for 
which one of the caution messages specified in paragraph (a)(2) of 
this AD was displayed on the ECAM] unless the discrepancy has been 
corrected by modifying the ILS receiver in accordance with 
AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 
(RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998.

New Actions Required By This AD

    (c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
all RIA-35B ILS receivers, P/N 066-50006-0202, with RIA-35B ILS 
receivers that have been modified in accordance with AlliedSignal 
Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-
7), Revision 1, dated May 1998; on which the P/N's have been 
converted to 066-50006-1202. Such replacement constitutes 
terminating action for the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD. 
After the replacement has been accomplished, the limitations 
required by paragraph (a)(1) of this AD may be removed from the AFM.

    Note 3: Modification of all AlliedSignal RIA-35B ILS receivers, 
P/N 066-50006-0202, accomplished prior to August 28, 1998, in 
accordance with AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service 
Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-7), dated April 1998, is considered 
acceptable for compliance with the modification specified in this 
amendment.

    Note 4: Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-34-1163, Revision 
01, dated August 19, 1998 (for Model A319, A320 and A321 series 
airplanes), Service Bulletin A330-34-3068, dated April 28, 1998 (for 
Model A330 series airplanes), and Service Bulletin A340-34-4073, 
dated April 28, 1998 (for Model A340 series airplanes), provide 
additional information on the installation of RIA-35B ILS receiver 
part number 066-50006-1202.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) 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, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Operations Inspector 
or Principal Avionics Inspector or Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 5: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

    (e) 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    (f) The replacement shall be done in accordance with 
AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 
(RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998. 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 Aerospace, Technical Publications, Dept. 
65-70, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (g) This amendment becomes effective on November 22, 1999.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 7, 1999.
D. L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26865 Filed 10-15-99; 8:45 am]
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