[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 10, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69891-69893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22352]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1990; Project Identifier AD-2023-00734-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Various Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for various airplanes modified with a certain configuration of the 
Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System installed per Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) No. SA01866WI. This proposed AD was prompted by a 
report of an un-commanded automatic pitch trim runaway when the 
autopilot was first engaged. This proposed AD would require updating 
the applicable Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System software for your 
airplane and would prohibit installing earlier versions of that 
software. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 
24, 2023.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1990; 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 NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Withers, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1801 S Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 
946-4190; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1990; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-00734-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Christopher Withers, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 S Airport 
Road, Wichita, KS 67209. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA received a report of an incident involving a Textron 
Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Beech Aircraft 
Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, 
and Beechcraft Corporation) Model F33A Bonanza airplane having an un-
commanded automatic pitch trim runaway when the autopilot was first 
engaged. The airplane was equipped with a Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot 
System that included an optional GSA 28 pitch trim servo. The affected 
Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System includes G5, G3X Touch, or GI 275 
software and was installed per STC No. SA01866WI using Master Drawing 
List 005-01264-00, Revisions 1 through 76.
    The affected autopilot system software does not properly handle 
certain hardware failures of the pitch trim servo. This could result in 
an automatic un-commanded pitch trim runaway, and loss of control of 
the airplane.
    An investigation by Garmin International and the National 
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined this condition could 
exist on various Textron Aviation, Inc., Piper Aircraft, Inc., 
Commander Aircraft Corporation, Mooney International Corporation, and 
DAHER AEROSPACE airplane models equipped with a Garmin GFC 500 
Autopilot System that includes an optional GSA 28 pitch trim servo.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require updating the applicable Garmin GFC 
500 Autopilot System software for your airplane and would prohibit 
installing earlier versions of that software.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 5,900 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

[[Page 69892]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
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Update autopilot software...........  1 work-hour x $85 per                $0              $85         $501,500
                                       hour = $85.
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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 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

Various Airplanes: Docket No. FAA-2023-1990; Project Identifier AD-
2023-00734-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 24, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all airplane models specified in Table 1 to 
paragraph (c) of this AD, certificated in any category, having a 
Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System that includes an optional GSA 28 
pitch trim servo installed per Supplemental Type Certificate No. 
SA01866WI using Master Drawing List 005-01264-00, Revisions 1 
through 76.

          Table 1 to Paragraph (c)--Applicable Airplane Models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Type certificate holder                   Airplane model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commander Aircraft Corporation.........  112 and 114.
DAHER AEROSPACE........................  TB 20 and TB 21.
Mooney International Corporation.......  M20.
Piper Aircraft, Inc....................  PA-24.
Piper Aircraft, Inc....................  PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-
                                          160, PA-28-161, PA-28-235, PA-
                                          28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-
                                          201, PA-28R-201T, PA-28RT-201,
                                          and PA-28RT-201T.
Piper Aircraft, Inc....................  PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32-
                                          301, PA-32-301FT, PA-32-301T,
                                          PA-32-301XTC, PA-32R-300, PA-
                                          32RT-300, PA-32RT-300T, PA-32R-
                                          301 (HP), PA-32R-301 (SP), and
                                          PA-32R-301T.
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  B19, B23, and B24R.
 previously held by Beech Aircraft
 Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft
 Company, Hawker Beechcraft
 Corporation, and Beechcraft
 Corporation).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  C35, D35, E35, F35, and G35.
 previously held by Beech Aircraft
 Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft
 Company, Hawker Beechcraft
 Corporation, and Beechcraft
 Corporation).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  F33A, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35,
 previously held by Beech Aircraft        P35, S35, V35, 36, A36, and
 Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft           B36TC.
 Company, Hawker Beechcraft
 Corporation, and Beechcraft
 Corporation).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  172.
 previously held by Cessna Aircraft
 Company).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  172RG.
 previously held by Cessna Aircraft
 Company).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  177.
 previously held by Cessna Aircraft
 Company).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  182, 182G, and 182R.
 previously held by Cessna Aircraft
 Company).

[[Page 69893]]

 
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  206.
 previously held by Cessna Aircraft
 Company).
Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate  210.
 previously held by Cessna Aircraft
 Company).
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(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2210, Autopilot 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of an un-commanded automatic 
pitch trim runaway when the autopilot was first engaged. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address autopilot software that does not properly 
handle certain hardware failures of the pitch trim servo. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in un-commanded automatic 
pitch trim runaway and loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Action

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, update the 
Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System software applicable to your airplane 
to a version that is not 8.01 or earlier for the G5, not version 
9.01 or earlier for the G3X Touch, and not version 2.59 or earlier 
for the GI 275.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, do not install Garmin GFC 
500 Autopilot System Software that is version 8.01 or earlier for 
the G5, version 9.01 or earlier for the G3X Touch, or version 2.59 
or earlier for the GI 275, on any airplane.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Central Certification 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 Central Certification Branch, send it 
to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this 
AD. Information may be emailed to [email protected].
    (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

    For more information about this AD, contact Christopher Withers, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 S Airport Road, Wichita, KS 
67209; phone: (316) 946-4190; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on October 3, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-22352 Filed 10-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P