[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3844-3846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1967]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-28-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell, Inc., Part Number HG1075AB05 
and HG1075GB05 Inertial Reference Units

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Honeywell, Inc. part number (P/N) 
HG1075AB05 and HG1075GB05 inertial reference units (IRU) that are 
installed on aircraft. This proposed AD would require you to inspect 
the affected IRU's for proper function and remove the IRU either 
immediately or at a certain time depending on the result of the 
inspection. This proposed AD is the result of a report that these IRU's 
may not function when using backup battery power in certain 
installations. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended 
to ensure the correct transition of the IRU to backup battery power 
upon the loss of primary power. Failure of an IRU to transition to 
backup battery power could result in loss of attitude, heading, and 
position reference and lead to the pilot making flight decisions that 
put the aircraft in unsafe flight conditions.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before March 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-28-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD 
from Honeywell, Inc., Commercial Aviation Products, 8840 Evergreen 
Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55433-6040. You may also view this 
information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wesley Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, Des 
Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-7564; facsimile: (847) 
294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This Proposed AD?

    The FAA invites comments on this proposed rule. You may submit 
whatever written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to 
include the rule's docket number and submit your comments to the 
address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all 
comments received on or before the closing date. We may amend this 
proposed rule in light of comments received. Factual information that 
supports your ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this proposed AD action and determining whether we 
need to take additional rulemaking action.

Are There Any Specific Portions of This Proposed AD I Should Pay 
Attention to?

    The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed rule that 
might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may view all comments we 
receive before and after the closing date of the rule in the Rules 
Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes each 
contact we have with the public that concerns the substantive parts of 
this proposed AD.

How Can I be Sure FAA Receives My Comment?

    If you want FAA to acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you 
must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write 
``Comments to Docket No. 2001-CE-28-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail 
the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

    A ground test for proper inertial reference unit (IRU) function 
revealed a wiring defect that is attributed to a manufacturing error on 
certain Honeywell, Inc. part number (P/N) HG1075AB05 and HG1075GB05 
IRU's. This wiring defect disables the IRU's capability to detect a 
loss of primary input power and transition to backup battery input 
power in some installations.
    The affected IRU's incorporate the following:

--P/N HG1075AB05: any serial number (last four digits) 0644 through 
0723 (excluding 0652 and 0659) that incorporates modification status 3; 
and
--P/N HG1075GB05: serial number (last four digits) 0652 or 0659 that 
incorporates modification status 2.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of attitude, 
heading, and position reference and lead to the pilot making flight 
decisions that put the aircraft in unsafe flight conditions.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    Honeywell, Inc. has issued the following:

--Alert Service Bulletin HG1075AB-34-A0013, dated May 21, 2001; and
--Alert Service Bulletin HG1075GB-34-A0005, dated May 21, 2001.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

    These service bulletins include procedures for inspecting the 
affected IRU's for proper function. It also

[[Page 3845]]

specifies having the IRU returned to Honeywell and modified.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of 
This Proposed AD

What Has FAA Decided?

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, we have 
determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on any type design aircraft that incorporates one of the 
affected IRU's;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

    This proposed AD would require you to inspect any affected IRU for 
proper function and remove the IRU either immediately or at a certain 
time depending on the result of the inspection.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 80 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What Would Be the Cost Impact of This Proposed AD on Owners/Operators 
of the Affected Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed 
inspection and modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                               Parts cost                airplane     U.S. operators
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2 workhours at $60 per hour = $120............  Honeywell to provide at no cost.            $120          $9,600
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Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposed rule would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Would This Proposed AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
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) if 
promulgated, 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 draft regulatory 
evaluation prepared for this action has been placed 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Honeywell, Inc.: Docket No. 2001-CE-28-AD.

    (a) What aircraft are affected by this AD? This AD affects any 
aircraft, certificated in any category, that incorporates one of the 
following:
    (1) Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) part number (P/N) HG1075AB05, 
any serial number (last four digits) 0644 through 0723 (excluding 
0652 and 0659), that incorporates modification status 3; or
    (2) IRU P/N HG1075GB05, serial number (last four digits) 0652 or 
0659, that incorporates modification status 2.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
an aircraft with any of the equipment identified in paragraph (a) of 
this AD installed must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to ensure the correct transition of the IRU to 
battery power upon the loss of primary power. Failure of an IRU to 
transition to backup battery power could result in loss of attitude, 
heading, and position reference and lead to the pilot making flight 
decisions that put the aircraft in unsafe flight conditions.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
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(1) Inspect any affected IRU for  Within the next 50  In accordance with
 proper function.                  hours time-in-      the instructions
                                   service (TIS)       in Honeywell
                                   after the           Alert Service
                                   effective date of   Bulletin HG1075AB-
                                   this AD.            34-A0013, dated
                                                       May 21, 2001; or
                                                       Honeywell Alert
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       HG1075GB-34-A0005
                                                       , dated May 21,
                                                       2001, as
                                                       applicable.
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(2) Remove any affected IRU from  If found to not     In accordance with
 the airplane.                     function properly   the instructions
                                   during the          in Honeywell
                                   inspection          Alert Service
                                   required by         Bulletin HG1075AB-
                                   paragraph (d)(1)    34-A0013, dated
                                   of this AD,         May 21, 2001; or
                                   remove prior to     Honeywell Alert
                                   further flight      Service Bulletin
                                   after the           HG1075GB-34-A0005
                                   inspection. If      , dated May 21,
                                   found to function   2001, as
                                   properly, remove    applicable.
                                   within 200 hours
                                   time-in-service
                                   (TIS) after the
                                   inspection
                                   required by
                                   paragraph (d)(1)
                                   of this AD.
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[[Page 3846]]

 
(3) Do not install, on any        As of the           Not Applicable.
 aircraft, one of the IRU's        effective date of
 identified in paragraphs (a)(1)   this AD.
 and (a)(2) of this AD, unless
 it has been modified at
 Honeywell, Inc. and updated to
 one of the following:.
(i) IRU P/N HG1075AB05 IRU Mod
 7; or.
(ii) IRU P/N HG1075GB05 IRU Mod
 6.
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    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, approves 
your alternative. Send your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office.

    Note: This AD applies to any aircraft with an inertial reference 
unit (IRU) installed as identified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) 
of this AD, regardless of whether the aircraft has been modified, 
altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this 
AD. For aircraft 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Wesley Rouse, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 E. Devon 
Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-8113; 
facsimile: (847) 294-7834.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Honeywell, Inc., Commercial Aviation Products, 8840 Evergreen 
Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55433-6040. You may view these 
documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 18, 2002.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-1967 Filed 1-25-02; 8:45 am]
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