[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 3, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15818-15820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5896]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27735; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-027-AD; 
Amendment 39-15009; AD 2007-07-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell Flight Management Systems 
(FMSs) Served by Honeywell NZ-2000 Navigation Computers Approved Under 
Technical Standard Order (TSO) TSO-C115a, and IC-800 Integrated 
Avionics Computers Approved Under TSOs C9c, C52a, and C115a; as 
Installed on Various Transport Category Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Honeywell FMSs served by Honeywell NZ-2000 navigation computers and IC-
800 integrated avionics computers. This AD requires identifying 
affected computers by part number and software modification level and 
revising the Limitations section of applicable airplane flight manuals 
to provide procedures for retaining optimum position determination and 
intended navigation. This AD results from reports of in-flight 
unannunciated shifts of computed position in airplanes with the subject 
flight management system (FMS) computers. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent a shift in the FMS computed position, which could result in 
uncommanded deviations from the intended flight path of the airplane 
and, if those deviations are undetected by the flight crew, compromised 
terrain/traffic avoidance.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 18, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 18, 
2007.
    We must receive comments on this AD by June 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this 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 Honeywell, P.O. Box 21111, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1111, for 
service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Brownlee, Flight Test Pilot, 
Flight Test Branch, ANM-160L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; 
telephone (562) 627-5365; fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We have received reports of in-flight unannunciated shifts of 
computed position in airplanes with Honeywell NZ-2000 navigation and 
IC-800 integrated avionics computers serving Honeywell Flight 
Management Systems (FMSs). The computed position shift, attributed to a 
software design error induced during a previous software modification, 
occurs when the number of inertial reference units (IRUs) supplying 
data to the FMS degrades from 3 to 2 or from 2 to 1, or increases from 
2 to 3 or from 1 to 2. If the FMS system is coupled to an autopilot or 
flight director system, this shift in the FMS computed position could 
result in uncommanded deviations from the intended flight path of the 
airplane and, if those deviations are undetected by the flight crew, 
compromised terrain/traffic avoidance.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Honeywell Technical Newsletter A23-6111-008, 
Revision 001, dated February 22, 2007. This technical newsletter 
describes procedures for determining affected FMS computers receiving 
position information from multiple IRUs by identifying the part number 
and software modification level of the NZ-2000 navigation and IC-800 
integrated avionics computers serving these Flight Management Systems. 
For airplanes with affected part numbers and software modification 
levels, the newsletter also describes revising the Limitations section 
of the applicable airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to provide procedures 
for deselecting all but one IRS to each FMS on every power-up cycle. 
The

[[Page 15819]]

AFM revision is provided as Appendix A in the newsletter.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    The unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or 
develop on other airplanes of the same type design. For this reason, we 
are issuing this AD to prevent errors in airplane position displays and 
consequent deviation from the intended flight path. This AD requires 
accomplishing the actions specified in the Technical Newsletter 
described previously.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. The manufacturer is currently 
developing a modification that will address the unsafe condition 
identified in this AD. Once this modification is developed, approved, 
and available, we might consider additional rulemaking.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we have found that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good 
cause exists to make this AD effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any relevant written 
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an 
address listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-
27735; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-027-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD that might 
suggest a need to modify it.
    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 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 the 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.

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 AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-07-12 Honeywell, Inc.: Amendment 39-15009. Docket No. FAA-2007-
27735; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-027-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 18, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Honeywell NZ-2000 navigation 
computers approved under Technical Standard Order (TSO) TSO-C115a, 
and IC-800 integrated avionics computers approved under TSOs C9c, 
C52a, and C115a; as installed on transport category airplanes, 
certificated in any category, including but not limited to the 
airplanes identified in Table 1 of this AD.

                   Table 1.--Known Affected Airplanes
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              Manufacturer                            Model
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Bombardier, Inc........................  CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-
                                          3R, and CL-604) airplanes.
Dassault Aviation......................  Mystere-Falcon 900 airplanes.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.......  G-1159A, G-IV, and GV
                                          airplanes.
Lockheed...............................  382G series airplanes.

[[Page 15820]]

 
Raytheon Aircraft Company..............  BAe.125 Series 800A (including
                                          C-29A and U-125) airplanes.
                                         Hawker 800XP and 1000
                                          airplanes.
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Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of in-flight unannunciated 
shifts of computed position in airplanes with the subject flight 
management system (FMS) computers identified in paragraph (c) of 
this AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent a shift in the FMS 
computed position, which could result in uncommanded deviations from 
the intended flight path of the airplane and, if those deviations 
are undetected by the flight crew, compromised terrain/traffic 
avoidance.

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.

Identification of Part Number/Modification Level

    (f) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD: 
Determine if the installed NZ-2000 navigation computers and IC-800 
integrated avionics computers serving FMSs have computer part 
numbers and software modification levels identified in Honeywell 
Technical Newsletter A23-6111-008, Revision 001, dated February 22, 
2007. For purposes of this AD, airplanes with FMS computers having a 
part number and software modification level identified in the 
newsletter are ``affected airplanes.''

Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (g) For any affected airplane: Within 14 days after the 
effective date of this AD, revise the Limitations section of the 
applicable AFM to incorporate the information included in Appendix A 
of Honeywell Technical Newsletter A23-6111-008, Revision 001, dated 
February 22, 2007. This may be done by inserting a copy of Appendix 
A of the newsletter into the AFM.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(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) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Honeywell Technical Newsletter A23-6111-008, 
Revision 001, dated February 22, 2007, to perform the actions that 
are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51. Contact Honeywell, P.O. Box 21111, Phoenix, AZ 85036-
1111, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 23, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-5896 Filed 4-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P