[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44030-44032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16307]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-28-AD; Amendment 39-12795; AD 2002-13-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Honeywell, Inc. part number (P/N) HG1075AB05 and 
HG1075GB05 inertial reference units (IRU) that are installed on 
aircraft. This AD requires 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 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 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: This AD becomes effective on August 9, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
August 9, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Honeywell, Inc., Customer Response Center at 1-877-436-2005. You 
may view this information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 2001-CE-28-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, 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: 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:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    A ground test for proper inertial reference unit (IRU) function 
revealed a wiring defect that is attributed to a

[[Page 44031]]

manufacturing error on certain Honeywell, Inc. part number (P/N) 
HG1075AB05 and HG1075GB05 IRUs. 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: any serial number (last four digits) 0652 or 0659 
that incorporates modification status 2.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    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.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an 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 
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on January 28, 2002 (67 FR 3844 ). The NPRM proposed 
to 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.

Was the Public Invited to Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. The following presents the comments received on the 
proposal and FAA's response to each comment:

Comment Issue No. 1: Change the List of Aircraft That Could Have an 
Affected IRU Installed

What Is the Commenter's Concern?

    One commenter requests FAA to focus on those aircraft where the 
affected IRUs would most likely be installed. The commenter 
acknowledges that this equipment could be installed on other aircraft 
through the technical standard order (TSO) or supplemental type 
certificate (STC), but points out that the IRUs are primarily used on 
Dassault Falcon Jets.

What Is FAA's Response to the Concern?

    We concur that these IRUs are primarily used on Dassault Falcon 
Jets. We will add a note in the AD that states these IRUs are primarily 
used on early manufactured Dassault Falcon Jets, but could be 
incorporated on other aircraft through the TSO or an STC.

Comment Issue No. 2: Write the Applicability To Ensure That Certain IRU 
Units Are Not Affected

What Is the Commenter's Concern?

    One commenter requests that FAA change the Applicability so 
aircraft incorporating the following are not affected by this AD:

--An IRU with a part number of (P/N) HG1075AB05, any serial number 
(last four digits) 0644 through 0723 (excluding 0652 and 0659), that 
incorporates modification status 7; and
--An IRU with a P/N of HG1075GB05, serial number (last four digits) 
0652 or 0659, that incorporates modification status 6.

    The commenter points out that this change will make it clear that 
the AD does not apply to aircraft that already incorporate a modified 
IRU.

What Is FAA's Response to the Concern?

    We concur that those airplanes with either of these configurations 
are not affected by the AD. The presumption in the AD is that if the 
units do not incorporate the affected modification status, then they 
have the corrected modification status. We concur that this can be 
confusing and we are rewriting the Applicability to clarify this.

Comment Issue No. 3: Add the Toll Free Phone Number of Where to Obtain 
Service Information

What Is the Commenter's Concern?

    One commenter requests that FAA add the toll free telephone number 
of Honeywell Commercial Aviation Products to aid in the customer 
obtaining service information.

What Is FAA's Response to the Concern?

    We concur and will add this toll free number in the AD.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
the additions described above and minor editorial corrections. We have 
determined that these additions and minor corrections:

--Provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the 
unsafe condition; and
--Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

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

What Is the Cost Impact of this AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

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

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

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    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

[[Page 44032]]

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, under 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:


2002-13-07  Honeywell, Inc.: Amendment 39-12795; 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. This AD 
does not apply to these units if they incorporate modification 
status 7; or
    (2) IRU P/N HG1075GB05, any serial number (last four digits) 
0652 or 0659, that incorporates modification status 2. This AD does 
not apply to these units if they incorporate modification status 6.

    Note 1: These IRUs are primarily used on early manufactured 
Dassault Falcon Jets, but could be incorporated on other aircraft 
through the technical standard order (TSO) or supplemental type 
certificate (STC).

    (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 August 9,     Alert Service
                                   2002 (the           Bulletin HG1075AB-
                                   effective date of   34-A0013, dated
                                   this AD).           May 21, 2001; or
                                                       Honeywell Alert
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       HG1075GB-34-
                                                       A0005, dated May
                                                       21, 2001, as
                                                       applicable.
(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-
                                   inspection. If      A0005, dated May
                                   found to function   21, 2001, as
                                   properly, remove    applicable.
                                   within 200 hours
                                   time-in-service
                                   (TIS) after the
                                   inspection
                                   required by
                                   paragraph (d)(1)
                                   of this AD..
(3) Do not install, on any        As of August 9,     Not Applicable.
 aircraft, one of the IRU's        2002 (the
 identified in paragraphs (a)(1)   effective date of
 and (a)(2) of this AD, unless     this AD).
 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..
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Chicago ACO.

    Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (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) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Honeywell Alert Service Bulletin HG1075AB-34-A0013, dated May 
21, 2001 or Honeywell Alert Service Bulletin HG1075GB-34-A0005, 
dated May 21, 2001, as applicable. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved this incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get copies from Honeywell, Inc., 
Customer Response Center at 1-877-436-2005. You may view copies at 
the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on August 9, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 20, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-16307 Filed 6-28-02; 8:45 am]
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