[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69318-69320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27640]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0966; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-040-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rockwell Collins, Inc. Transponders

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Rockwell Collins TPR-720 and TPR-900 Mode select (S) 
transponders that are installed on airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by the identification that the TPR-720 and TPR-900 Mode S 
transponders respond intermittently to Mode S interrogations from both 
ground-based and traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS-) equipped 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require testing and calibration of 
the alignment of the transponders. We are proposing this AD to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Collins Aviation Services, 350 Collins Road 
NE., M/S 153-250, Cedar Rapids, IA 52498-0001; telephone: 888-265-5467 
(U.S.) or 319-265-5467; fax: 319-295-4941 (outside U.S.); email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.rockwellcollins.com/Services_and_Support/Publications.aspx. You 
may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 
329-4148.

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 proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger A. Souter, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 
67209; telephone: 316-946-4134; facsimile: 316-946-4107; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0966; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-040-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed 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 proposed AD.

Discussion

    FAA surveillance and testing of Mode S transponders, associated 
with an upcoming change to the National Airspace System (NAS) ground-
based system software, exposed a deficiency in the capability of the 
Rockwell Collins TPR-720 and TPR-900 series transponders to properly 
respond to Mode S interrogations from both ground-based radars and 
TCAS-equipped airplanes.
    FAA and Rockwell Collins, Inc. investigated the deficiency with the 
transponders and determined that age and lack of depot-level 
maintenance may cause a shift in the sync phase reversal tolerance 
causing intermittent replies to the Mode S and TCAS II interrogations. 
The transponder receiver

[[Page 69319]]

misalignment requires calibration to correct the problem.
    This unsafe condition, if not corrected, could result in possible 
misalignment issues with the transponders that could lead to increased 
pilot and air traffic controller workload as well as reduced separation 
of airplanes.

Relevant Service Information

    Rockwell Collins, Inc. issued Service Information Letter 13-1, 523-
0821603-101000, Revision No. 1, dated October 24, 2013. The service 
letter describes procedures for testing the transponders for proper 
alignment.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing 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 the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require testing and calibration of the 
alignment of the TPR-720 and TPR-900 Mode S transponders.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 4,000 products that are 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per      Cost on  U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost            Parts cost           product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test and calibration of the         4 x $85 per hour =     Not applicable......            $340       $1,360,000
 transponders.                       $340.
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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 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Rockwell Collins, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0966; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-CE-040-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 3, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to the following Rockwell Collins, Inc. Mode 
S transponders that are installed on but not limited to the 
airplanes listed in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (c)(2)(ii) of this AD:
    (i) TPR-720: CPN 622-7878-001, 622-7878-020, 622-7878-120, 622-
7878-200, 622-7878-201, 622-7878-301, 622-7878-440, 622-7878-460, 
622-7878-480, 622-7878-901; and
    (ii) TPR-900: CPN 822-0336-001, 822-0336-020, 822-0336-220, 822-
0336-440, 822-0336-460, 822-0336-480, 822-0336-902.
    (2) The products listed in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (c)(1)(ii) 
of this AD may be installed on but not limited to the following 
airplanes, certificated in any category:
    (i) Airbus Models A319, A320, A330, A340; and
    (ii) Boeing Models B777, B747, MD-80, and DC-9.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 34, Navigation.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the identification that the TPR-720 and 
TPR-900 Mode S transponders respond intermittently to Mode S 
interrogations from both ground-based and traffic collision 
avoidance system equipped airplanes. We are issuing this AD to 
correct possible misalignment issues with the transponders that 
could result in increased pilot and air traffic controller workload 
as well as reduced separation of airplanes.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, unless already done.

(g) Test and Calibration

    Within the next 2 years after the effective date of this AD and 
repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 4 years, 
send the TPR-720 and TPR-900 Mode S transponders to a certified 
repair facility for test and calibration to assure proper alignment 
following Rockwell Collins, Inc. Service Information Letter 13-1, 
523-0821603-101000, Revision No. 1, dated October 24, 2013.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if

[[Page 69320]]

requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance 
with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or 
local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Roger A. Souter, 
FAA, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 
67209; telephone: 316-946-4134; facsimile: 316-946-4107; email 
address: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Collins Aviation Services, 350 Collins Road 
NE., M/S 153-250, Cedar Rapids, IA 52498-0001; telephone: 888-265-
5467 (U.S.) or 319-265-5467; fax: 319-295-4941 (outside U.S.); 
email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.rockwellcollins.com/Services_and_Support/Publications.aspx. 
You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 11, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27640 Filed 11-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P