[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 14, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20586-20589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07746]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0760; Project Identifier 2019-NE-18-AD; Amendment 
39-21108; AD 2020-08-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Thales AVS France SAS Global 
Positioning System/Satellite Based Augmentation System Receivers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Thales AVS France SAS (Thales) Global Positioning System/
Satellite Based Augmentation System (GPS/SBAS) receivers installed on 
airplanes and helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports that Thales 
GPS/SBAS receivers provided, under certain conditions, erroneous 
outputs on aircraft positions. This AD requires the installation of a 
software update to the aircraft navigation database and insertion of a 
change to the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM). The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 19, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 19, 2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service Engineering, 
124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-
416-4299; email: [email protected]; Thales AVS 
France SAS, 75-77 Avenue Marcel Dassault, 33700 M[eacute]rignac--
France, Tel: +33 (0)5 24 44 77 40, www.thalesgroup.com; or ATR-GIE 
Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, 1, All[eacute]e Pierre Nadot, 
31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; fax +33 
(0) 5 62 21 67 18; email

[[Page 20587]]

aircraft.com">continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also 
available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0760.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0760; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for 
Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirk Gustafson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7190; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Thales GPS/SBAS 
receivers installed on airplanes and helicopters. The NPRM published in 
the Federal Register on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 5584). The NPRM was 
prompted by reports that Thales GPS/SBAS receivers provided, under 
certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. The NPRM 
proposed to require the installation of a software update to the 
aircraft navigation database and insertion of a change to the 
applicable AFM. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.
    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2019-0004, dated January 11, 2019, corrected on January 
17, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address the 
unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

    It has been determined that, in SBAS areas, in specific 
conditions of the GPS satellite constellation in line of sight to 
the aircraft, the Thales Topstar 200 LPV GPS/SBAS receiver may 
provide an erroneous position on its outputs, which may not be 
detected by the integrity check. Depending on the aircraft 
installation, this error may not be noticed by the flight crew.
    This condition, if not corrected, could possibly compromise the 
safety margins when the receiver is used for Localizer Performance 
with Vertical guidance (LPV) and/or RNP-AR (Required Navigation 
Performance--Authorization Required) operations.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires removal 
from the navigation database of LPV procedures and all RNP-AR 
procedures in SBAS areas, listed in the SIL. To ensure a reset of 
all the GPS computations which may contribute to the erroneous GPS 
position output, this [EASA] AD also requires, for certain ATR 
aeroplanes (see Note 1 of this [EASA] AD), amendment of the 
applicable AFM.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0760.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or 
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Task 31-61-00-800-802, ``2. FMS Database Update 
for Multifunction Display (MFD)'' of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) SA S76D-AMM-000, 31-61-00, dated 
November 30, 2017. This Task provides instructions for updating the MFD 
on affected Sikorsky aircraft.
    The FAA also reviewed ATR72 AMM Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 45-
11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated June 1, 2018, and ATR42-400/500 Series AMM 
Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 45-11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated July 1, 
2018. These service documents provide instructions on updating the 
navigation databases installed on affected ATR airplanes.
    The FAA also reviewed Thales Service Information Letter (SIL) Doc. 
No. THAV/SIL-1308, Issue 7, dated September 28, 2018. The SIL describes 
procedures to upload navigational database using Thales PMAT software 
on affected ATR airplanes.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 45 Thales GPS/SBAS receivers 
installed on, but not limited to, GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional model ATR42 airplanes and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
model S-76D helicopters of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update navigation database for GPS/     1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $3,825
 SBAS receiver.                          hour = $85.
Update AFM............................  3 work-hours x $85 per                 0             255          11,475
                                         hour = $255.
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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.
    The FAA is 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

[[Page 20588]]

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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2020-08-02 Thales AVS France SAS: Amendment 39-21108; Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0760; Project Identifier 2019-NE-18-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 19, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Thales AVS France SAS (Thales) Global 
Positioning System/Satellite Based Augmentation System (GPS/SBAS) 
receivers, Topstar 200 LPV, part numbers (P/Ns) C17149JA02 and 
C17149HA01. These GPS/SBAS receivers are installed on, but not 
limited to, ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional (ATR) model 
ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation model S-
76D helicopters, respectively.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3457, Global 
Positioning System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports that Thales GPS/SBAS receivers 
provided, under certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft 
positions. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent erroneous aircraft 
position outputs from the Thales GPS/SBAS receivers. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in controlled flight into 
terrain and loss of the aircraft.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For operators of affected ATR model ATR42 and ATR72 
airplanes:
    (i) Update the aircraft's navigation database within 30 days 
after the effective date of this AD using the software upload 
instructions, as applicable, in the following:
    (A) ATR72 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Job Instruction 
Cards, Doc. No. 45-11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated June 1, 2018.
    (B) ATR42-400/500 Series AMM Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 45-
11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated July 1, 2018.
    (C) Thales Service Information Letter (SIL) Doc. No. THAV/SIL-
1308, Issue 7, dated September 28, 2018.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (2) For operators of affected ATR model ATR42 and ATR72 
airplanes:
    (i) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, amend 
Section 1.2 ``Each Flight Checks'' of the pre-flight section in the 
applicable airplane flight manual by inserting the change shown in 
Figure 1 and Figure 2 to paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this AD. 
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR14AP20.000


[[Page 20589]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR14AP20.001

    (ii) Before each flight, power cycle the Thales GPS/SBAS 
receiver unit.
    (3) For operators of Sikorsky S-76D helicopters, within 30 days 
after the effective date of this AD, update the aircraft's 
navigation database using the instructions in TASK 31-61-00-800-802, 
``2. FMS Database Update for Multifunction Display (MFD)'' of the 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, AMM SA S76D-AMM-000, 31-61-00, dated 
November 30, 2017.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, 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 Boston ACO Branch, 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 Kirk Gustafson, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7190; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0004, dated January 11, 2019 (corrected on January 17, 2019), 
for more information. You may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket 
on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0760.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Aircraft Maintenance Manual 
(AMM) SA S76D-AMM-000, 31-61-00, dated November 30, 2017.
    (ii) ATR72 AMM Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 45-11-00 LDG 
10030-004, dated June 1, 2018.
    (iii) ATR42-400/500 Series AMM Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 
45-11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated July 1, 2018.
    (iv) Thales Service Information Letter Doc. No. THAV/SIL-1308, 
Issue 7, dated September 28, 2018.
    (3) For Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation service information 
identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 
Customer Service Engineering, 124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; 
telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-416-4299; email: 
[email protected].
    (4) For Thales service information identified in this AD, 
contact Thales AVS France SAS, 75-77 Avenue Marcel Dassault, 33700 
M[eacute]rignac--France, Tel: +33 (0)5 24 44 77 40, 
www.thalesgroup.com.
    (5) For ATR service information identified in this AD, contact 
ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, 1, All[eacute]e Pierre 
Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; 
fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email aircraft.com">continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com.
    (6) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 781-238-7759.
    (7) You may view this 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, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on April 8, 2020.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07746 Filed 4-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P