58678 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 191 / Monday, October 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules

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 (e)

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 you have not

eliminated the unsafe condition, specific

actions you propose to address it.

(f) Where can I get information about any

already-approved alternative methods of

compliance? Contact Roman T. Gabrys,

Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane

Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas

City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329–

4141; facsimile: (816) 329–4090.

(g) What if I need to fly the airplane to

another location to comply with this AD? The

FAA can issue a special flight permit under

sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and

21.199) to operate your airplane to a location

where you can accomplish the requirements

of this AD.

(h) How do I get copies of the documents

referenced in this AD? You may obtain copies

of the documents referenced in this AD from

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison

Manager, CH–6371 Stans, Switzerland; or

from Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd., Product

Support Department, 11755 Airport Way,

Broomfield, Colorado 80021. You may

examine these documents at FAA, Central

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Swiss AD HB 2000–393, dated September

6, 2000.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

September 26, 2000.

Michael K. Dahl,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–25152 Filed 9–29–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–CE–14–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rockwell

Collins, Inc. ADC–85, ADC–85A, ADC–

850C, and ADC–850F Air Data

Computers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain

Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rockwell) ADC–

85, ADC–85A, ADC–850C, and ADC–

850F air data computers that are

installed on airplanes. The proposed AD

would require you to replace any air

data computer (ADC) with one that has

reprogrammed and tested central

processing unit (CPU) circuit card and

circuit card assemblies. The proposed

AD is the result of a flight test that

showed that these ADC’s could display

an unwarranted ADC flag in response to

the airplane’s ‘‘Normal/Alternate Air’’

static source selection capability. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent the ADC from

displaying an unwarranted ADC flag

when switching static air sources. This

could cause the flight crew to deselect

a valid alternate static air source during

the time the unwarranted ADC flag is

displayed and possibly result in the

display of misleading information

during critical operating situations.

DATES: The Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) must receive any

comments on this proposed rule by

November 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments in triplicate

to FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 2000–CE–14–AD, 901

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106. You may inspect

comments at this location between 8

a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except holidays.

You may get the service information

referenced in the proposed AD from

Rockwell Collins, Business and

Regional Systems, 400 Collins Road

Northeast, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52498.

You may read this information at the

Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Roger A. Souter, FAA, Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport

Road, Rm 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209;

telephone: (316) 946–4134; facsimile:

(316) 946–4407. E-mail address:

Roger.Souter@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How do I comment on this AD? We

invite your comments on the proposed

rule. You may send whatever written

data, views, or arguments you choose.

You need to include the rule’s docket

number and send your comments in

triplicate to the address specified under

the caption ADDRESSES. We will

consider all comments received by the

closing date specified above, before

acting on the proposed rule. We may

change the proposals contained in this

notice because of the comments

received.

Are there any specific portions of the

AD I should pay attention to? The FAA

specifically invites comments on the

overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule that might call for a

need to change the proposed rule. You

may read all comments we receive. We

will file a report in the Rules Docket

that summarizes each FAA contact with

the public that concerns the substantive

parts of this proposal.

The FAA is reviewing the writing

style we currently use in regulatory

documents, in response to the

Presidential memorandum of June 1,

1998. That memorandum requires

federal agencies to communicate more

clearly with the public. We are

interested in your comments on the ease

of understanding this document, and

any other suggestions you might have to

improve the clarity of FAA

communications that affect you. You

can get more information about the

Presidential memorandum and the plain

language initiative at http://

www.faa.gov/language/.

How can I be sure FAA receives my

comment? If you want us to

acknowledge the receipt of your

comments, you must include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard. On the

postcard, write ‘‘Comments to Docket

No. 2000–CE–14–AD.’’ We will date

stamp and mail the postcard back to

you.

Discussion

What events have caused this

proposed AD? The air data computer

(ADC), as part of its monitoring process,

tests for errant sensor behavior, such as

unreasonable jumps in altitude and

unreasonably high vertical speed. When

the ADC detects an errant sensor

behavior, the ADC displays a flag for 5.5

seconds plus the time it takes for the

sensor to settle within the limits for

another 5.5-second period. This results

in a minimum ADC flag display of 11

seconds.

Testing of certain Rockwell Collins

ADC’s reveals the ADC could display

unwarranted flags on aircraft where you

can select the ‘‘Normal/Alternate Air’’

static source. When there is a significant

difference between normal and

alternate/revisionary static air sources,

you can exceed the ADC monitor

thresholds and the ADC would display

flags.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 191 / Monday, October 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules 58679

If the flight crew used the undesirable

ADC flag displays to deselect the

alternate static air source before the

initial 11-second display period, a valid

air source may have been deselected.

Confusion could result when the

previously unflagged normal static air

source is reselected. This may also

result in the ADC displaying a flag for

the first 11 seconds. The affected ADC’s

include:

Unit Part No. Applicable to serial No. Production installed serial No.

ADC–85 ........................ 622–8051–002,

622–8051–003

All units ............................................................... None.

ADC–85A ..................... 822–0370–113,

822–0370–123,

822–0370–139,

822–0370–404,

822–0370–408

All units ............................................................... None.

ADC–850C ................... 822–0374–121,

822–0374–135,

822–0374–407,

822–0374–410

1FWH and below, except 1B16 through 1P6C 1B16 through 1P6C, 1LT6 and above.

ADC–850F ................... 822–1036–406,

822–1036–418

All Units .............................................................. None.

What are the consequences if the

condition is not corrected? If these

situations were to occur while the flight

crew were making critical flight

decisions, this unwarranted ADC flag

could distract the crew and the lack of

attention to the critical actions could

result in an unsafe operating condition.

Relevant Service Information

What service information applies to

this subject? Rockwell has issued

Service Bulletin No. 62 (ADC–85/85A/

850C/850F–34–62), dated October 25,

1999.

What are the provisions of this service

bulletin? The service bulletin contains

procedures for replacing or

reprogramming applicable parts or

Circuit Card Assemblies on CPU Circuit

Cards in the ADC and testing the

modified ADC.

The FAA’s Determination and an

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

What has FAA decided? After

examining the circumstances and

reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

we have determined that:

—The unsafe condition referenced in

this document exists or could develop

on airplanes equipped with either a

Rockwell ADC–85, ADC–85A, ADC–

850C, or ADC–850F ADC’s;

—Any airplane with one of these ADC

units should have the actions

specified in the above service bulletin

incorporated; and

—The FAA should take AD action to

correct this unsafe condition.

What does this proposed AD require?

This proposed AD would require you to:

—Remove the ADC from the airplane,

—Replace or reprogram applicable parts

or Circuit Card Assemblies on the

CPU Circuit Card,

—Test the modified ADC, and

—Install the modified ADC in the

airplane.

Cost Impact

How many airplanes does this

proposed AD impact? We estimate the

proposed AD would affect 245 airplanes

in the U.S. registry.

What is the cost impact of the

proposed action for the affected

airplanes on the U.S. Register? We

estimate that it would take about 1

workhour per airplane to remove the

ADC. We estimate that it would take

about 1 workhour to install the ADC in

the airplane.

We estimate that it would take about

1 workhour per airplane to do the

proposed installation and

reprogramming and about 3 workhours

per airplane to do the proposed testing

at an average labor rate of $60 an hour.

Parts to do this action cost up to $680.

Based on the figures presented above,

we estimate the total cost impact of the

proposed action on U.S. operators is

$254,800, or $1,040 per airplane.

For units that are still under warranty,

Rockwell will provide the parts and

labor at no charge.

Regulatory Impact

Does this proposed AD impact

relations between Federal and State

governments? The proposed regulations

would 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. It is

determined that this proposed rule

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

Does this proposed AD involve a

significant rule or regulatory action? For

the reasons discussed above, I certify

that this proposed action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under Department of

Transportation Regulatory Policies and

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26,

1979); and (3) if put into effect 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.

We have placed a copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action in the Rules Docket. You may get

a copy of it by contacting the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority

delegated to me by the Administrator,

the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA) proposes to amend 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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. FAA amends Section 39.13 by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

Rockwell Collins, Inc.: Docket No. 2000–CE–

14–AD.

(a) What airplanes are affected by this AD?

The following Rockwell Collins air data

computers (ADC) that are installed in, but not

limited to the airplanes that are listed below:

(1) Affected ADC’s:

58680 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 191 / Monday, October 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules

Unit Part No. Applicable to serial No. Production installed serial No.

ADC–85 ........................ 622–8051–002,

622–8051–003

All Units .............................................................. None.

ADC–85A ..................... 822–0370–113,

822–0370–123,

822–0370–139,

822–0370–404,

822–0370–408

All Units .............................................................. None.

ADC–850C ................... 822–0374–121,

822–0374–135,

822–0374–407,

822–0374–410

1FWH and below, except 1B16 through 1P6C 1B16 through 1P6C, 1LT6 and above.

ADC–850F ................... 822–1036–406,

822–1036–418

All Units .............................................................. None.

(2) List of airplanes where the affected

ADC could be installed. This is not a

comprehensive list and airplanes not on this

list that have the ADC installed through field

approval or other methods are still affected

by this AD:

Unit Airplane model

ADC–85/ADC–

85A.

Astra AIA, Chinese Y7 and

Y8, Czech LET–610, DC–

8, Falcon 20F, Piaggio P–

180, Raytheon King 250,

350, and 1900, Saab 340.

ADC–850D .... Lear 60.

ADC–850F ..... Falcon 20, 50, and 50EX.

(b) Who must comply with this AD?

Anyone who wishes to operate any airplane

on the U.S. Register that uses one of the

above referenced Rockwell air data

computers must comply with this AD.

(c) What problem does this AD address?

The actions specified by this AD are intended

to prevent an unwarranted display of the

ADC flag when switching static air sources.

This could cause the flight crew to react to

this incorrect flight information and possibly

result in an unsafe operating condition.

(d) What must I do to address this

problem? To address this problem, you must

accomplish the following actions:

Actions Compliance times Procedures

(1) Remove any affected ADC from the airplane.Within 1 year after the effective date of this

AD.

Do these actions in accordance with Rockwell

Collins Service Bulletin No. 62 (ADC–85/

85A/850C/850F–34–62), dated October 25,

1999, the applicable Collins Computer

Component Maintenance Manual, and Collins Avionics Standard Shop Practices Instruction Manual.

(2) As applicable, replace or reprogram parts or

Circuit Card assemblies on Central Processing Unit Circuit Cards.

(3) Test the ADC.

(4) Install the modified ADC in the airplane.

(5) Do not install on any airplane one of the affected ADC’s unless the modification and

test required by paragraphs (d)(2) and (d)(3)

of this AD are accomplished.

As of the effective date of this AD ................... Use the procedures in the referenced service

information.

(e) Can I comply with this AD in any other

way? You may use an alternative method of

compliance or adjust the compliance time if:

(1) Your alternative method of compliance

provides an equivalent level of safety; and

(2) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office (ACO, 1801 Airport Road,

Rm 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209, approves

your alternative. Send your request through

an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,

who may add comments and then send it to

the Manager, Wichita ACO.

Note: This AD applies to each airplane

with a Rockwell air data computer identified

in paragraph (a) of this AD, 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 (e)

of this AD. You should include in the request

an assessment of the effect of the

modification, alteration, or repair on the

unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and,

if you have not eliminated the unsafe

condition, specific actions you propose to

address it.

(f) Where can I get information about any

already-approved alternative methods of

compliance? You can contact Roger A.

Souter, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification

Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Rm 100,

Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946–

4134; facsimile: (316) 946–4407, E-mail:

Roger.Souter@faa.gov.

(g) What if I need to fly the airplane to

another location to comply with this AD? The

FAA can issue a special flight permit under

sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and

21.199) to operate your airplane to a location

where you can accomplish the requirements

of this AD.

(h) How do I get copies of the documents

referenced in this AD? You may obtain copies

of the documents referenced in this AD from

Rockwell Collins, Business and Regional

Systems, 400 Collins Road Northeast, Cedar

Rapids, Iowa 52498; or may read this

document at FAA, Central Region, Office of

the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

September 26, 2000.

Michael K. Dahl,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–25153 Filed 9–29–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P