Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 10, 2023 / Proposed Rules 69891 

prescribed in paragraph (b) of this 

section, of all members. 

* * * * * 

Erin Morris, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–22335 Filed 10–6–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

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). 

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 uncommanded 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: christopher.d.withers@

faa.gov. 

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: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
69892 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 10, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Update autopilot software ............................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $501,500 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 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 previously held by Beech Aircraft 

Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, and Beechcraft Corporation).

B19, B23, and B24R. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Beech Aircraft 

Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, and Beechcraft Corporation).

C35, D35, E35, F35, and G35. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Beech Aircraft 

Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, and Beechcraft Corporation).

F33A, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, 36, A36, and B36TC. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft 

Company).

172. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft 

Company).

172RG. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft 

Company).

177. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft 

Company).

182, 182G, and 182R. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 10, 2023 / Proposed Rules 69893 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (c)—APPLICABLE AIRPLANE MODELS—Continued 

Type certificate holder Airplane model 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft 

Company).

206. 

Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft 

Company).

210. 

(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 uncommanded 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 wichita-cos@

faa.gov. 

(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: christopher.d.withers@faa.gov. 

(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 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1614; Airspace 

Docket No. 23–ASW–14] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Establishment of Class E Airspace; 

Lajitas, TX 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

establish Class E airspace at Lajitas, TX. 

The FAA is proposing this action to 

support new instrument procedures at 

this airport. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before November 24, 2023. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2023–1614 

and Airspace Docket No. 23–ASW–14 

using any of the following methods: 

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov and follow the 

online instruction for sending your 

comments electronically. 

* Mail: Send comments to Docket 

Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West 

Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 

20590–0001. 

* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take 

comments to Docket Operations in 

Room W12–140 of the West Building 

Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

* Fax: Fax comments to Docket 

Operations at (202) 493–2251. 

Docket: Background documents or 

comments received may be read at 

www.regulations.gov at any time. 

Follow the online instructions for 

accessing the docket or go to Docket 

Operations in Room W12–140 of the 

West Building Ground Floor at 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/ 

publications/. You may also contact the 

Rules and Regulations Group, Office of 

Policy, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raul 

Garza Jr., Federal Aviation 

Administration, Operations Support 

Group, Central Service Center, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5874. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. This rulemaking is 

promulgated under the authority 

described in Subtitle VII, Part A, 

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it would 

establish Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface 

at Lajitas International Airport, Lajitas, 

TX, to support instrument flight rule 

(IFR) operations at this airport. 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites interested persons to 

participate in this rulemaking by 

submitting written comments, data, or 

views. Comments are specifically 

invited on the overall regulatory, 

aeronautical, economic, environmental, 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1