[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11549-11551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3262]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24101; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-103-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sandel Avionics Incorporated Model 
ST3400 Terrain Awareness Warning System/Radio Magnetic Indicator 
Approved Under Technical Standard Order(s) C113, C151a, or C151b; 
Installed on Various Small and Transport Category Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD). 
The new AD is for Sandel Avionics Incorporated Model ST3400 terrain 
awareness warning systems/radio magnetic indicator (TAWS/RMI) units as 
described above. This proposed AD would require installing a warning 
placard on the TAWS/RMI, installing upgraded software in the TAWS/RMI, 
revising the limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), 
and removing the placard and AFM revision after installing the 
software. This proposed AD results from a report that an in-flight 
bearing error occurred in a Model ST3400 TAWS/RMI, due to a combination 
of input signal fault and software error. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent a bearing error, which could lead to an airplane departing from 
its scheduled flight path, which could result in a reduction in 
separation from, and a possible collision with, other aircraft or 
terrain.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Sandel Avionics Incorporated (Sandel), 2401 Dogwood Way, 
Vista, California 92083, for the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ha A. Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 
90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5335; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Include the docket number ``FAA-
2006-24101; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-103-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report indicating that an in-flight bearing 
error occurred in a Sandel Avionics Incorporated (Sandel) Model ST3400 
terrain awareness warning systems/radio magnetic indicator (TAWS/RMI) 
installed on a Raytheon Model HS.125 series 700A airplane, due to a 
combination of input signal fault and software error. A similar fault 
could occur in any such TAWS/RMI that is configured for COMPOSITE NAV 
and has software installed that is at revision 3.05 or A3.05 or 
earlier. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an airplane 
departing from its scheduled flight path, which could result in a 
reduction in separation from and a possible collision with other 
aircraft or terrain.

[[Page 11550]]

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Sandel ST3400 Service Bulletin SB3400-01, Revision 
B, dated September 15, 2004. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for installing an instructional placard on the TAWS/RMI, and updating 
the TAWS/RMI software to revision A3.06 or 3.07, depending upon 
manufacturer serial number. Accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe 
condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products 
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    Although the service bulletin does not specify a revision to the 
airworthiness limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), 
we have determined that such a revision is needed to ensure flightcrew 
awareness of the TAWS/RMI status before the software upgrade has been 
accomplished. We have included a requirement in this proposed AD to 
revise the AFM. This difference has been coordinated with the 
manufacturer.
    The service bulletin specifies installing the instructional placard 
within 10 flight hours after the effective date of the service 
bulletin. However, such a brief period could impose considerable 
hardship on operators. We have determined that this action can be 
accomplished within 14 days without undue increased risk; therefore, we 
have specified that compliance time in this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 300 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $19,500, or $65 
per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the 
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 FAA proposes to amend 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. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Sandel Avionics Incorporated: Docket No. FAA-2006-24101; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-NM-103-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 24, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Sandel Avionics Incorporated (Sandel) 
Model ST3400 terrain awareness warning system/radio magnetic 
indicator (TAWS/RMI) units approved under Technical Standard 
Order(s) C113, C151a, or C151b; as identified in Sandel ST3400 
Service Bulletin SB3400-01, Revision B, dated September 15, 2004; as 
installed on various small and transport category airplanes, 
certificated in any category, including, but not limited to, the 
airplane models listed in Table 1 of this AD.

                 Table 1.--Manufacturers/Airplane Models
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           Manufacturer                       Airplane model(s)
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Airbus............................  A300.
Aero Commander (Rockwell,           500A.
 Gulfstream).
Beech (Raytheon)..................  1900D.
Boeing............................  727, 737, 747.
Cessna............................  208, 208B, 421C; Citation 501, 525,
                                     550, 560, 650, S550.
Challenger (Canadair; originally    600, 600 series, 601.
 LearStar).
Commander (Aero Commander)........  695A.
DeHaviland (Hawker Siddeley, BAE).  DHC-6.
Embraer...........................  120.
Falcon (Dassault).................  10, 50, 200.

[[Page 11551]]

 
Gulfstream........................  G-1159A, G-I, G-III.
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)..  1124, 1125.
Jetstream.........................  31.
Lear..............................  24, 35, 36, 55.
McDonnell Douglas.................  DC-10.
Mitsubishi (Raytheon).............  MU-300.
Piper (Swearingen)................  Cheyenne PA31-T2.
Raytheon..........................  Barron 58; Beechjet 400; Bonanza
                                     A36; Hawker 125-600, 125-700, 125-
                                     700A, 125-800A, 800-XP; King Air
                                     200, 300, 350, A200, B100, B200,
                                     B300, C90, C90A, C90B, E90, E910,
                                     F90.
Sabreliner........................  60.
Swearingen........................  SA227.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that an in-flight bearing 
error occurred in a Model ST3400 TAWS/RMI due to a combination of 
input signal fault and software error. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent a bearing error, which could lead to an airplane departing 
from its scheduled flight path, which could result in a reduction in 
separation from, and a possible collision with, other aircraft or 
terrain.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Installing Placard

    (f) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD: Install 
a placard on the TAWS/RMI which states, ``NOT FOR PRIMARY VOR 
NAVIGATION,'' in accordance with Sandel ST3400 Service Bulletin 
SB3400-01, Revision B, dated September 15, 2004.

Revising AFM

    (g) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise 
the limitations section of the applicable Airplane Flight Manual 
(AFM) to include the following statement: ``Use of ST3400 TAWS/RMI 
for primary VOR navigation is prohibited unless the indicator has 
3.07 or A3.06 software or later.'' This may be done by inserting a 
copy of this AD into the AFM.

Updating Software

    (h) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, in 
accordance with Sandel ST3400 Service Bulletin SB3400-01, Revision 
B, dated September 15, 2004: Field-load the TAWS/RMI with updated 
software having revision 3.07 (for units having serial numbers (S/
Ns) under 2000) or revision A3.06 (for units having S/Ns 2000 and 
subsequent), as applicable. The placard and AFM limitations revision 
installed as required by paragraphs (f) and (g) of this AD may be 
removed after the software upgrade required by paragraph (h) of this 
AD has been accomplished.

Parts Installation

    (i) As of 90 days after the effective date of this AD, no person 
may install, on any airplane, an ST3400 TAWS/RMI unit, unless it has 
been modified according to Sandel ST3400 Service Bulletin SB3400-01, 
Revision B, dated September 15, 2004.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 28, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-3262 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P