[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 134 (Friday, July 13, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38532-38533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13606]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28689; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-17-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Trimble or FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O 
Approach Plus Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the Trimble or FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O Approach Plus 
global positioning system (GPS) navigation system (2101 I/O Approach 
Plus system). The AD would require a software upgrade for this system. 
This proposal is prompted by an incident that led to the discovery of 
several annunciation errors with the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent a pilot 
from making an unsafe decision based on erroneous information provided 
by the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system, which could result in loss of 
control of the aircraft.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 11, 2007.

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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590;
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays; or
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from FreeFlight Systems, 3700 IH 35, Waco, Texas, USA, 76706, or by 
calling (254) 662-0000.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sung-Hui Cavazos, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Special Certification Office, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5142, fax (817) 222-
5785.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2007-
28689, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-17-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 rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. 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 docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5527) is located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for the 2101 I/O Approach 
Plus system that would require a software upgrade. This proposal is 
prompted by an incident involving a Federal Republic of Germany 
military helicopter that led to the discovery of the following system 
malfunctions:
     Under certain conditions, when the system enters Dead 
Reckoning (DR) mode, the navigation and Super flags are removed from 
the display; however, the DR message and associated message light 
annunciation may fail to illuminate;
     The navigation and Super flags may not be removed from the 
display as required during approach mode after loss of a Receiver 
Autonomous Integrity Monitor (RAIM) condition; and
     When a RAIM error occurs (detects a satellite failure) and 
the system is unable to exclude the affected satellite, the unit may 
fail to enter DR mode and may fail to remove the navigation and Super 
flags from the display.
    These malfunctions could result in the following unsafe conditions:
     System could fail when interfaced with Terrain Awareness 
Warning System (TAWS) and the TAWS can fail to annunciate terrain 
alerts;
     System could provide misleading heading information; or
     System may provide erroneous navigation fault 
annunciations.

The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent a 
pilot from making an unsafe decision based on erroneous information 
provided by the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system, which could result in 
loss of control of the aircraft.
    These unsafe conditions are likely to exist or develop on any 
aircraft with a 2101 I/O Approach Plus system installed. Therefore, the 
proposed AD would require, within 180 days after the effective date of 
the AD for aircraft

[[Page 38533]]

approved for instrument flight rule (IFR) flight, or 270 days after the 
effective date of the AD for aircraft approved for visual flight rule 
(VFR) flight, upgrading the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system software. 
This AD is applicable to the units that currently have software 
revision, part number (P/N) 81440-xx-241E, -241F, or -241G installed. 
The ``xx'' in the P/N is a place-holder for either 02, 03, 12, or 13. 
FreeFlight Systems Service Information Letter SIL 81440-xx-00-17, dated 
November 7, 2005, was issued when the manufacturer believed that 
revision, P/N 81440-xx-241H, would correct the erroneous information 
displays. However, since the Service Information Letter was issued, it 
was determined that software revision, P/N 81440-xx-241H, did not 
correct all the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system malfunctions. An 
additional software problem which can cause the system to enter Dead 
Reckoning (DR) mode unintentionally was subsequently discovered. System 
software revision, P/N 81440-xx-241J, has been approved to correct all 
the known malfunctions. Updating the system software with software 
revision, P/N 81440-xx-241J, would be required by the proposed AD.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 259 2101 I/O 
Approach Plus systems installed on aircraft of U.S. registry, and the 
software upgrade would take approximately 2 work hours per aircraft to 
accomplish at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. FreeFlight 
Systems has stated that they would absorb some of the cost of the 
upgrade, including cost of the software upgrade and work hours for 
upgrading the existing software. Required parts would cost 
approximately $300 per aircraft. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $72,520, assuming 
one 2101 I/O Approach Plus system is installed on each aircraft, the 
manufacturer would provide all $300 in parts at no cost, and the only 
costs for these parts would be $120 for shipping costs for each unit.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, 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 draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Trimble or Freeflight Systems: Docket No. FAA-2007-28689; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-17-AD.
    Applicability: All aircraft with a Trimble or FreeFlight Systems 
2101 I/O Approach Plus global positioning system (GPS) navigation 
system (2101 I/O Approach Plus system), part number 81440-xx-241E, 
81440-xx-241F, or 81440-xx-241G (xx indicates either the numbers 02, 
03, 12, or 13), with software revision -241E, -241F, or 241G, 
installed, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within 180 days after the effective date of 
this AD for aircraft approved for instrument flight rule (IFR) 
flight, or 270 days after the effective date of this AD for aircraft 
approved for visual flight rule (VFR) flight, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent a pilot from making an unsafe decision based on 
erroneous information provided by the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system, 
which could result in loss of control of the aircraft, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Upgrade the system software of any Trimble or FreeFlight 
Systems 2101 I/O Approach Plus GPS navigation system, part number 
(P/N) 81440-xx-241E, 81440-xx-241F, or 81440-xx-241G (xx indicates 
the numbers 02, 03, 12, or 13), that currently has software revision 
-241E, -241F, or -241G, to system software revision, P/N 81440-xx-
241J.

    Note: FreeFlight Systems Service Information Letter SIL 81440-
XX-00-17, dated November 7, 2005, pertains to the subject of this 
AD. However, that service information letter was issued as a 
temporary fix to the issue. Since the Service Information Letter was 
issued, system software revision, P/N 81440-xx-241J, has been 
approved, and upgrading to that software revision is required by 
this AD.

    (b) Upgrading the Trimble or FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O 
Approach Plus GPS Navigation System's software, system software 
revision, P/N 81440-xx-241J, is considered a terminating action for 
the requirements of this AD.
    (c) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Special Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: Sung-
Hui Cavazos, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
Special Certification Office, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, 
telephone (817) 222-5142, fax (817) 222-5785, for information about 
previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the aircraft to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished provided that the 
aircraft is operated under VFR only.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 2, 2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13606 Filed 7-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P