[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 82 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22519-22521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9090]



[[Page 22519]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0385; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-068-AD; 
Amendment 39-16269; AD 2010-09-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc., Primus 
EPIC and Primus APEX Flight Management Systems, Installed on, but not 
Limited to, Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model ERJ 
170 and ERJ 190 Airplanes, and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Honeywell International Inc., Primus EPIC and Primus APEX flight 
management systems (FMS), as installed on the airplanes described 
above. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the 
airplane flight manual to incorporate the procedures necessary to 
recover from or work around a software anomaly in the FMS. This AD 
results from discovery of software anomalies which, in certain 
situations, can cause the FMS to generate misleading navigational 
guidance to the pilots and to the autopilot system of various airplanes 
having this same system software. We are issuing this AD to provide the 
flightcrew with procedures to recover from or work around these 
software anomalies during flight, which could lead to an airplane 
departing from its scheduled flight path, and result in possible 
collision with other aircraft or terrain.

DATES: This AD is effective May 14, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of May 14, 2010.
    We must receive comments on this AD by June 14, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Honeywell 
Technical Operations Center, 1944 E. Sky Harbor Circle, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85034; telephone 602-365-3099 or 800-601-3099; fax 602-365-
3343; e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For transport airplanes: Chip Adam, 
Flight Test Pilot, Flight Test Branch, ANM-160L, FAA, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 
California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5369; fax (562) 627-5210.
    For small airplanes: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, Small 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 329-4059; fax 816-329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We were notified of two software anomalies discovered in the 
Honeywell Primus EPIC and Primus APEX flight management systems (FMS): 
The first anomaly can occur when the destination runway is changed 
without an arrival or approach entered and the runway is the TO 
waypoint, which causes the destination runway to become the departure 
runway; the second anomaly can occur when crossing the 180 degree 
meridian, which causes the FMS longitude position calculation to move 
by approximately 180 degrees. These software anomalies can cause the 
FMS to generate misleading navigational guidance to the pilots and to 
the autopilot system of various airplanes having this same system 
software. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in an 
airplane departing from its scheduled flight path, which could result 
in possible collision with other aircraft or terrain.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed the Honeywell service information letters (SILs) 
specified in the following table. The SILs describe the procedures 
necessary to recover from or to work around the identified software 
anomalies in the FMS described above.

                                  Table--Honeywell Service Information Letters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Honeywell service information
             letter--                     Revision--               Model--                    Dated--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D201002000007....................  Original................  PC-12/47E airplanes  February 16, 2010.
D201002000051....................  1.......................  ERJ 170 and ERJ 190  March 26, 2010.
                                                              airplanes.
D201002000052....................  Original................  ERJ 170 and ERJ 190  March 3, 2010.
                                                              airplanes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type 
designs. This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Difference Between the AD and the Service Information.''

Difference Between the AD and the Service Information

    The SILs identified in the previous table do not specify revising 
the AFMs of the affected airplanes to include the information in the 
General Information section of the SIL; however, this AD requires 
revising the applicable AFM to

[[Page 22520]]

include that information in order to ensure that the flightcrew has the 
necessary procedures to recover from or work around the identified 
anomalies during flight.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. The FMS 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 Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Certain Honeywell FMS software anomalies, in certain situations, 
can cause the FMS to generate misleading navigational guidance to the 
pilots and to the autopilot system of various airplanes having this 
same system. This misleading navigational guidance to the pilots and to 
the autopilot system causes the airplane to depart from its scheduled 
flight path, which could result in possible collision with other 
aircraft or terrain. We have determined that it is imperative that we 
notify flightcrews of these anomalies and provide them with procedures 
to recover from or work around these anomalies during flight. Because 
of our requirement to promote safe flight of civil aircraft and thus 
the critical need to assure proper navigational guidance from Honeywell 
FMS, coupled with the short compliance time involved with this action, 
this AD must be issued immediately.
    Because an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we find that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment hereon are impracticable and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
``Docket No. FAA-2010-0385; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-068-AD'' at 
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

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

    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 this AD:
    (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 under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2010-09-04 Honeywell International Inc.: Amendment 39-16269. Docket 
No. FAA-2010-0385; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-068-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 14, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc., Primus EPIC 
and Primus APEX flight management systems (FMS), having the FMS part 
numbers (P/N) listed in Table 1 of this AD, installed on, but not 
limited to, Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model 
ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes, and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-
12/47E airplanes, certificated in any category.

                          Table 1--Part Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          FMS Part Number                           Model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primus EPIC FMS P/N PS7027709-00127  ERJ 170 airplanes.
 (Load 23.1), and PS7027709-00129
 (Load 23.2), both with NZ7.1
 VAR12ZS FMS software.
Primus EPIC FMS P/N PS7027709-00214  ERJ 190 airplanes.
 (Load 23.1), and PS7027709-00217
 (Load 23.2), both with NZ7.1
 VAR12ZS FMS software.
Primus APEX FMS P/N EB7037248-       PC-12/47E airplanes.
 00103, with NZ7.1 VAR12 FMS
 software.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 22521]]

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34: 
Navigation.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from discovery of software anomalies which, 
in certain situations, can cause the FMS to generate misleading 
navigational guidance to the pilots and to the autopilot system of 
various airplanes having this same system software. The Federal 
Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to provide the flightcrew 
with procedures to recover from or work around these software 
anomalies during flight, which could lead to an airplane departing 
from its scheduled flight path, and result in possible collision 
with other aircraft or terrain.

Compliance

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

Revise the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    (g) Within 14 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the applicable AFM to include the 
information in the applicable service information letter (SIL) 
specified in Table 2 of this AD.

                                          Table 2--Service Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Honeywell Service Information
             Letter--                     Revision--               Model--                    Dated--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D201002000007....................  Original................  PC-12/47E airplanes  February 16, 2010.
D201002000051....................  1.......................  ERJ 170 and ERJ 190  March 26, 2010.
                                                              airplanes.
D201002000052....................  Original................  ERJ 170 and ERJ 190  March 3, 2010.
                                                              airplanes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: The actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD may be 
done by inserting a copy of the applicable SIL specified in Table 2 
of this AD into the applicable AFM. When the applicable SIL has been 
included in the general revisions of the applicable AFM, the general 
revisions may be inserted into the AFM, provided the relevant 
information in the general revision is identical to that in the SIL.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The manager of the office having certificate responsibility 
for the affected airplanes has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any aircraft to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (1) For transport airplanes: Send information to ATTN: Chip 
Adam, Flight Test Pilot, Flight Test Branch, ANM-160L, FAA, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5369; fax (562) 
627-5210.
    (2) For small airplanes: Send information to ATTN: Doug Rudolph, 
Aerospace Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 901 Locust 
Street, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 329-
4059; fax (816) 329-4090.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use the applicable service information contained in 
Table 3 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the 
AD specifies otherwise.

                                   Table 3--Material Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Document                              Revision                              Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honeywell Service Information Letter      Original.......................  February 16, 2010.
 D201002000007.
Honeywell Service Information Letter      1..............................  March 26, 2010.
 D201002000051.
Honeywell Service Information Letter      Original.......................  March 3, 2010.
 D201002000052.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Honeywell Technical Operations Center, 1944 E. Sky Harbor Circle, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85034; telephone 602-365-3099 or 800-601-3099; fax 
602-365-3343; e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington on April 8, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-9090 Filed 4-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P