[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27398-27401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08082]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 17, 2024 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 27398]]
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: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that applied to various airplanes modified with a certain configuration
of the Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System installed per Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) No. SA01866WI. This action revises the NPRM by
removing airplane models from and adding airplane models to the
applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive to
address the unsafe condition on these products. Since this action would
expand the applicability for the required action as proposed in the
NPRM, the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this SNPRM by June 3, 2024.
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 under
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 SNPRM, 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 the ADDRESSES section. 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 again revise 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 proposed AD.
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 SNPRM 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 SNPRM, 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 SNPRM. 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 issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that
would apply to various airplanes modified with a certain configuration
of the Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System installed per STC No. SA01866WI.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 10, 2023 (88 FR
69891). The NPRM was prompted by a report of an un-commanded automatic
pitch trim runaway when the autopilot was first engaged. In the NPRM,
the FAA proposed to require updating the applicable Garmin GFC 500
Autopilot System software for your airplane and prohibit installing
earlier versions of that software.
Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued
Based on the comments the FAA received on the NPRM, the FAA is
proposing revising the applicability by removing and adding airplane
models, revising paragraph (e) of the proposed AD to clarify that
certain hardware failures affected the primary pitch servo, and adding
Note 1 to paragraph (g) of the proposed AD.
Comments
The FAA received comments from several individuals and the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who supported the NPRM without
change.
The FAA also received three comments from Garmin. The following
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to
each comment.
Request To Correct Language in Paragraph (e) of the Proposed AD
Garmin stated that paragraph (e) of the proposed AD incorrectly
states that hardware faults can occur in the pitch trim servo. Garmin
explained that hardware faults occur in the pitch servo,
[[Page 27399]]
not the pitch trim servo. Garmin requested a correction to state that
hardware faults occur in the pitch servo.
The FAA agrees with the commenter. The FAA has corrected paragraph
(e) of the proposed AD to change the wording from ``pitch trim servo''
to ``primary pitch servo.''
Request To Reference Service Information
Garmin also stated that paragraph (g) of the proposed AD should
reference Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin (SB) 22123, Rev A,
dated January 3, 2023, or later revision, because it would help
operators find the easiest path to compliance.
The FAA partially agrees. The FAA agrees that referencing the SB
will help operators find a path to compliance but disagrees that
operators should be required to use the SB to update the software. The
SB requires performing multiple actions, whereas the specified action
in this proposed AD is to only update the software version. The FAA has
added Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this proposed AD to inform operators
that the software update can be done using Garmin Mandatory STC Service
Bulletin 22123, Rev A, dated January 3, 2023.
Request To Add Additional Airplane Models
Garmin further stated that the proposed AD would affect more
airplane models than what are included in paragraph (c) of the proposed
AD. The FAA infers that Garmin requested the applicability of the NPRM
be revised to include additional airplane models.
The FAA agrees and has updated paragraph (c) of this proposed AD to
include additional affected airplane models.
Additional Change Made to the Applicability
Since the NPRM published, the FAA determined the need to remove
Commander Aircraft Corporation Model 112 airplanes and Textron Aviation
Inc. Model 177 airplanes from paragraph (c), Applicability, of this
proposed AD. Paragraph (c) of the proposed AD specifies that the
affected airplanes are those having a Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System
that includes an optional GSA 28 pitch trim servo installed per STC No.
SA01866WI using Master Drawing List (MDL) 005-01264-00, Revisions 1
through 76. The software change to eliminate the unsafe condition
identified in this proposed AD was included in MDL revision 77 so
airplanes incorporating this STC using MDL revision 77 and higher do
not have the software that exhibits the unsafe condition. When
installing STC No. SA01866WI, operators of Model 112 airplanes are
using MDL revision 78 and operators of Model 177 airplanes are using
MDL revision 83, therefore they should not be included in the
applicability.
The FAA also determind the need to remove Textron Aviation Inc.
Model 182 airplanes from paragraph (c) of this proposed AD. Although
Model 182 airplanes are using MDL revision 61, they are not affected by
the identified unsafe condition because the mechanical characteristics
prohibit the installation of a pitch trim servo.
The FAA further determined the need to remove Mooney International
Corporation Model M20 airplanes and Textron Aviation Inc. Model 172,
206, and 210 airplanes from paragraph (c) of this proposed AD. These
airplane models are not listed in the FAA Approved Model List (AML),
amended September 8, 2023, for STC No. SA01866WI.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD after determining the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of
the same type design. Certain changes described above expand the scope
of the NPRM. As a result, it is necessary to reopen the comment period
to provide additional opportunity for the public to comment on this
SNPRM.
Proposed AD Requirements in This SNPRM
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:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
[[Page 27400]]
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 June 3, 2024.
(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 112B, 112TC, 112TCA, 114, 114A, 114B, and
Corporation. 114TC.
DAHER AEROSPACE.............. TB 20 and TB 21.
Mooney International M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K,
Corporation. M20M, M20R, and M20S.
Piper Aircraft, Inc.......... PA-24, PA-24-250, and PA-24-260.
Piper Aircraft, Inc.......... PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-
160, PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-181, PA-
28-201T, PA-28-235, PA-28-236, PA-28R-
180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-201, PA-28R-
201T, PA-28RT-201, and PA-28RT-201T.
Piper Aircraft, Inc.......... PA-30 and PA-39.
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 19A, B19, M19A, A23A, A23-19, A23-24,
certificate previously held B23, C23, A24, A24R, B24R, and C24R.
by Beech Aircraft
Corporation, Raytheon
Aircraft Company, Hawker
Beechcraft Corporation, and
Beechcraft Corporation).
Textron Aviation Inc (type C35, D35, E35, F35, and G35.
certificate previously held
by Beech Aircraft
Corporation, Raytheon
Aircraft Company, Hawker
Beechcraft Corporation, and
Beechcraft Corporation).
Textron Aviation Inc (type 35-33, 35-A33, 35-B33, 35-C33, 35-C33A,
certificate previously held 36, A36, A36TC, B36TC, E33, E33A, E33C,
by Beech Aircraft F33, F33A, F33C, G33, H35, J35, K35,
Corporation, Raytheon M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, and V35B.
Aircraft Company, Hawker
Beechcraft Corporation, and
Beechcraft Corporation).
Textron Aviation Inc (type 172D, 172E, 172F, 172G, 172H, 172I, 172K,
certificate previously held 172L, 172M, 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172R, and
by Cessna Aircraft Company). 172S.
Textron Aviation Inc (type F172E, F172F, F172G, F172H, F172K, F172L,
certificate previously held F172M, F172N, F172P.
by Cessna Aircraft Company).
Textron Aviation Inc (type 172RG, P172D, and R172K.
certificate previously held
by Cessna Aircraft Company).
Textron Aviation Inc (type FR172K.
certificate previously held
by Cessna Aircraft Company).
Textron Aviation Inc (type 177B.
certificate previously held
by Cessna Aircraft Company).
Textron Aviation Inc (type 177RG.
certificate previously held
by Cessna Aircraft Company).
Textron Aviation Inc (type F177RG.
certificate previously held
by Cessna Aircraft Company).
Textron Aviation Inc (type 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H, 182J, 182K, 182L,
certificate previously held 182M, 182N, 182P, 182Q, 182R, 182S,
by Cessna Aircraft Company). 182T, F182P, F182Q, FR182, R182, T182,
T182T, and TR182.
Textron Aviation Inc (type 206H, P206C, P206D, P206E, T206H, TP206C,
certificate previously held TP206D, TP206E, TU206C, TU206D, TU206E,
by Cessna Aircraft Company). TU206F, TU206G, U206C, U206D, U206E,
U206F, and U206G.
Textron Aviation Inc (type 210D, 210E, 210F, 210G, 210H, 210J, 210K,
certificate previously held 210L, 210M, 210N, T210F, T210G, T210H,
by Cessna Aircraft Company). T210J, T210K, T210L, T210M, and T210N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 primary pitch 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.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): The software update can be done using
Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin 22123, Rev A, dated
[[Page 27401]]
January 3, 2023. This AD also allows the installation of versions
other than those listed in Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin
22123, Rev A, dated January 3, 2023, provided those versions are not
listed in paragraph (g) of this AD.
(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)(1) 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
(1) 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].
(2) For service information identified in this AD that is not
incorporated by reference, contact Garmin International, Attention:
Garmin Aviation Support, 1200 E. 151st Street, Olathe, KS 66062;
phone: (866) 739-5687; website: support.garmin.com/en-US/aviation/.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on April 9, 2024.
James D. Foltz,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08082 Filed 4-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P