[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
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Honeywell service information
letter-- Revision-- Model-- Dated--
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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.
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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
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FMS Part Number Model
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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.
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[[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
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Honeywell Service Information
Letter-- Revision-- Model-- Dated--
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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.
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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
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Document Revision Date
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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.
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(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]
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