Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 38 / Wednesday, February 26, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 8617

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office,

Small Airplane Directorate, Campus

Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 2–

160, College Park, Georgia; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

April 2, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February

19, 1997.

James V. Devany,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4553 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–07–AD; Amendment 39–

9947; AD 97–05–03]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal

Avionics, Inc. Models GNS–XLS or

GNS–XL Flight Management Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to all owners/operators of

aircraft equipped with AlliedSignal

Avionics Inc. (AlliedSignal) Models

GNS–XLS or GNS–XL global positioning

systems (GPS) Flight Management

Systems. This action requires inserting

a limitation into the Airplane Flight

Manual (AFM) or Flight Manual

Supplement Limitations Section

prohibiting the use of these AlliedSignal

GPS units on previously published nonprecision approaches. This action is

prompted by recent reports of flight

course deviations because of erroneous

information provided by the GPS Flight

Management System. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

prevent deviation from an intended

flight path during a non-precision

approach to an airport.

DATES: Effective March 18, 1997.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

April 18, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket 97–CE–07–AD,

Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas

City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Jose Flores, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office,

1801 Airport Road, Room 100, MidContinent Airport, Wichita, Kansas

67209; telephone (316) 946–4133,

facsimile (316) 946–4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

AlliedSignal recently notified the

FAA that their global positioning system

(GPS) Flight Management System

Models GNS–XLS and GNS–XL are

malfunctioning. The AlliedSignal

Models GNS–XLS and GNS–XL are used

to determine the flight course of an

airplane for previously published nonprecision approaches to an airport. The

GPS flight management system is

integrated into the software of the flight

management system recorder (black

box) in the airplane. These GNS–XLS

and GNS–XL GPS can be installed on,

but are not limited to the following

airplanes:

Manufacturer Models

British Aerospace, Ltd.

(BAe).

146–100A and

146–200A.

Cessna Aircraft Corporation.525, 550,

and 560.

Dausault Aviation ............... Mystere-Falcon

20 and 50.

Avions Marcel Dassault ..... Falcon 10.

Gulfstream Aerospace ....... G–1159 (G–II)

and G–1159A

(G–III).

Raytheon Corporate Jets ... Hawker 800.

Israel Aircraft Industries,

Ltd.

1124.

Sabreliner Corporation ....... NA–65.

Learjet Inc .......................... 35.

Jetstream Aircraft Ltd ........ 4101.

Problems arose with these GPS flight

management systems units after an

installation of a GNS–XLS unit for

certification in a Cessna Model 550

airplane. During this flight certification,

the AlliedSignal Model GNS–XLS GPS

provided erroneous information to the

Flight Management System which

caused the airplane to deviate from the

previously published non-precision

approach. Further investigation with

flight tests on other airplane models

confirmed this software malfunction.

The manufacturer conducted bench

tests on these models, and was also

successful in duplicating the deviation

occurring within the GPS flight

management software while it is used in

a previously published non-precision

approach situation. The tests also

showed that this malfunction is only

randomly occurring approximately 20

percent of the time.

The FAA’s Determination

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

including the relevant service

information, the FAA has determined

that AD action should be taken to

prevent deviation of an intended flight

path during a non-precision approach to

an airport.

Explanation of the Provisions of the AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other AlliedSignal Models

GNS–XLS and GNS–XL GPS Flight

Management Systems of the same type

design, this AD requires inserting the

following limitation into the Operations

Limitations Section of the AFM or

Flight Manual Supplement:

Operating Limitations

The GNS–XL (or GNS–XLS) is not

approved for non-precision approaches.

Note

The GNS–XL (or GNS–XLS) may generate

misleading information during nonprecision GPS or Overlay approaches due to

software limitations.

The FAA and AlliedSignal are

currently working together toward an

approved revision to the software

problem on these GPS Flight

Management System units.

Compliance Time of this AD

The compliance time of this AD is in

calendar time instead of hours time-inservice (TIS). The average daily usage of

the affected airplanes will have different

ranges throughout the fleets. For

example, one owner may operate the

airplane 5 hours TIS in one day, while

another operator may operate the

airplane 5 hours TIS in one week. In

order to ensure that all of the owners/

operators of the affected airplanes have

the chance to insert the limitation into

the operating limitations of their

Airplane Flight Manual or Flight

Manual Supplement within a reasonable

amount of time, the FAA is setting a

compliance time of within the next 5

days after the effective date of this AD.

Determination of the Effective Date of

the AD

Since a situation exists (misleading

flight course information to the pilot

during non-precision approaches) that

requires the immediate adoption of this

regulation, it is found that notice and

opportunity for public prior comment

hereon are impracticable, and that good

cause exists for making this amendment

effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of

a final rule that involves requirements
8618 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 38 / Wednesday, February 26, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

affecting immediate flight safety and,

thus, was not preceded by notice and

opportunity to comment, comments are

invited on this rule. Interested persons

are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or

arguments as they may desire.

Communications should identify the

Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified

above. All communications received on

or before the closing date for comments

will be considered, and this rule may be

amended in light of the comments

received. Factual information that

supports the commenter’s ideas and

suggestions is extremely helpful in

evaluating the effectiveness of the AD

action and determining whether

additional rulemaking action would be

needed.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the rule that might suggest a need to

modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this AD

will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must

submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 97–CE–07–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612,

it is determined that this final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this

regulation is an emergency regulation

that must be issued immediately to

correct an unsafe condition in aircraft,

and is not a significant regulatory action

under Executive Order 12866. It has

been determined further that this action

involves an emergency regulation under

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it

is determined that this emergency

regulation otherwise would be

significant under DOT Regulatory

Policies and Procedures, a final

regulatory evaluation will be prepared

and placed in the Rules Docket

(otherwise, an evaluation is not

required). A copy of it, if filed, may be

obtained from the Rules Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

97–05–03 ALLIEDSIGNAL AVIONICS

INC.: Amendment 39–9947; Docket No.

97–CE–07–AD.

Applicability: Models GNS–XLS and GNS–

XL global positioning systems, part numbers

(P/N) 17960–0102–XXXX and P/N 18355–

0101–XXXX respectively, installed on, but

not limited to the following airplanes,

certificated in any category.

Manufacturer Models

British Aerospace, Ltd.

(BAe).

146–100A and

146–200A.

Cessna Aircraft Corporation.525, 550, and

560.

Dausault Aviation ............... Mystere-Falcon

20 and 50.

Avions Marcel Dassault ..... Falcon 10.

Gulfstream Aerospace ....... G–1159 (G–II)

and G–1159A

(G–III).

Raytheon Corporate Jets ... Hawker 800.

Israel Aircraft Industries,

Ltd.

1124.

Sabreliner Corporation ....... NA–65.

Learjet Inc .......................... 35.

Jetstream Aircraft Ltd ........ 4101.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next 5

days after the effective date of this AD, unless

already accomplished.

To prevent deviation of the intended flight

path during a non-precision approach to an

airport, accomplish the following:

(a) Insert the following limitation into the

Operations Limitations Section of the

Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or Flight

Manual Supplement:

Operating Limitations

The GNS–XL (or GNS–XLS) is not

approved for non-precision approaches.

Note

The GNS–XL (or GNS–XLS) may generate

misleading information during nonprecision GPS or Overlay approaches due to

software limitations.

(b) Inserting a copy of this AD into the

Limitations section as described in paragraph

(a) of this AD is considered compliance with

the requirements of this AD.

(c) Incorporating the AFM revisions, as

required by this AD, may be performed by

the owner/operator holding at least a private

pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft

records showing compliance with this AD in

accordance with section 43.11 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of compliance time that provides

an equivalent level of safety may be approved

by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road,

Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita,

Kansas 67209. The request shall be

forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from Wichita Aircraft Certification

Office.

(e) Copies of this AD may be inspected at

the FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

(f) This amendment (39–9947) becomes

effective on March 18, 1997.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

February 19, 1997.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4662 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U