[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30802-30804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13948]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0659; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rockwell Collins, Inc. Traffic 
Surveillance System Processing Unit

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, Inc. TSS-4100 Traffic Surveillance System 
Processing Units that incorporate TSSA-4100 Field Loadable Software 
(FLS) Rockwell Collins part numbers 810-0052-002/ -003/-010/-011/-012/-
100/-101 and are installed on airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted 
by five

[[Page 30803]]

instances of air traffic control observing coasting (extrapolated stale 
data) of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data (position/
velocity data). This proposed AD would require installing the TSSA-4100 
FLS upgrades on the TSS-4100 units. We are proposing this AD to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 17, 2017.

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 NPRM, contact Rockwell 
Collins, Inc., Collins Aviation Services, 400 Collins Road NE., M/S 
164-100, 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 
view 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0659; 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: Paul Rau, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-4149; fax: 316-946-4107; email: 
[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-2017-0659; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-014-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

    We were notified of five instances of air traffic control observing 
coasting (extrapolated stale data) automatic dependent surveillance-
broadcast data (ADS-B position/velocity data) on a related Rockwell 
Collins, Inc. platform that shares a common architecture with the TSS-
4100 Traffic Surveillance System Processing Units, Rockwell Collins 
part number (RCPN) 822-2132-001, that are installed on airplanes. The 
affected units incorporate TSSA-4100 Field Loadable Software (FLS) 
RCPNs 810-0052-002/-003/-010/-011/-012/ -100/-101. An investigation of 
the events determined that the ADS-B position and the Mode S/traffic 
alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) altitude of the TSS-4100 
are affected. The extrapolation of the data occurs with no warning to 
the crew.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in misleading 
position and/or altitude being reported by the airplane. Misleading 
altitude data can adversely affect TCAS and possibly lead to mid-air 
collision due to an incorrect initial resolution advisory (RA) and/or 
an incorrect RA modification.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Rockwell Collins Service Information Letter, TSSA-4100-
SIL-10-1, Revision No. 9, dated March 31, 2017. The service letter 
describes procedures for determining the part number of the affected 
FLS and the installation procedure for updating the FLS. This service 
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have 
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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 updating the TSSA-4100 FLS on the 
TSS-4100 Traffic Surveillance System Processing Unit.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,000 products 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upgrade the FLS to RCPN 810-0052-013    1 work-hour x $85 per               $700            $785        $785,000
 or 810-0052-102.                        hour = $85.
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    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered by the manufacturer, thereby reducing the cost impact 
on affected individuals. We do not control manufacturer coverage for 
affected individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our 
cost estimate.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I,

[[Page 30804]]

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.

Rockwell Collins, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2017-0659; Directorate 
Identifier 2017-CE-014-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 17, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    Rockwell Collins, Inc. TSS-4100 Traffic Surveillance System 
Processing Units, Rockwell Collins part number (RCPN) 822-2132-001, 
that incorporate TSSA-4100 Field Loadable Software (FLS) RCPN 810-
0052-002/-003/-010/-011/-012/-100/-101; that are installed on but 
not limited to the airplanes listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through 
(14) of this AD and are certificated in any category.

(1) Cessna Citation CJ4 (525C)
(2) Bombardier Challenger 300 (BD-100-1A10)
(3) Bombardier Challenger 350 (BD-100-1A10)
(4) Bombardier Challenger 605 (CL-600-2B16)
(5) Bombardier Challenger 650 (CL-600-2B16)
(6) Bombardier CRJ-700 (CL-600-2C10)
(7) Bombardier CRJ-900 (CL-600-2D24)
(8) Bombardier CRJ-1000 (CL-600-2E25)
(9) Bombardier Global 5000 (BD-700-1A11)
(10) Bombardier Global 5000V (BD-700-1A11)
(11) Bombardier Global 6000 (BD-700-1A10)
(12) Embraer Legacy (EMB-550)
(13) Embraer Legacy 450 (EMB-545)
(14) Gulfstream G280.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by five instances of air traffic control 
observing coasting (extrapolated stale data) automatic dependent 
surveillance-broadcast data (ADS-B position/velocity data). We are 
issuing this AD to prevent erroneous extrapolation of position/
velocity and altitude data that could result in misleading position 
and/or altitude being reported by the airplane and possibly lead to 
mid-air collision.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Upgrade of FLS

    Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD or 
within the next 750 hours time-in-service after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first, upgrade the TSSA-4100 FLS to 
RCPN 810-0052-013 or 810-0052-102, as applicable, following Rockwell 
Collins Service Information Letter, TSSA-4100-SIL-10-1, Revision No. 
9, dated March 31, 2017.

(h) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This AD allows credit for the action required in paragraph (g) 
of this AD if done before the effective date of this AD following 
either Rockwell Collins Service Information Letter, TSSA-4100-SIL-
10-1, Revision No. 6, dated September 19, 2016; Rockwell Collins 
Service Information Letter, TSSA-4100-SIL-10-1, Revision No. 7, 
dated November 21, 2016; or Rockwell Collins Service Information 
Letter, TSSA-4100-SIL-10-1, Revision No. 8, dated January 4, 2017, 
provided the TSSA-4100 FLS is upgraded to RCPN 810-0052-013 or 810-
0052-102, as applicable.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Paul Rau, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-4149; fax: 316-946-4107; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Collins Aviation Services, 400 Collins Road 
NE., M/S 164-100, 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 view 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 June 26, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13948 Filed 6-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P