Document ID: FAA-2016-9345-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: United Instruments, Inc. Series Altimeters
Posted Date: 2016-11-07T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78083-78084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26807]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9345; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-028-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; United Instruments, Inc. Series 
Altimeters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain United Instruments, Inc. 5934 series altimeters that were 
manufactured between January 2015 and February 2016 and installed in 
airplanes and helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of 
certain altimeters displaying higher than actual altitude due to a slow 
diaphragm leak. This proposed AD would require replacing the affected 
altimeters. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent display of 
misleading altitude data, which could result in inadvertent flight into 
terrain.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 22, 
2016.

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 http://www.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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
United Instruments, Inc., 3625 Comotara Avenue, Wichita, KS 67226; 
telephone (316) 636-9203; fax: (316) 636-9243; email: 
customerservice@unitedinst.com; Internet: www.unitedinst.com. You may 
review this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9345; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Les Lyne, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4190; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: 
leslie.lyne@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite 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-2016-9345; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-028-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We received a report that certain United Instruments, Inc. 5934 
series altimeters that were manufactured between January 2015 and 
February 2016 may display higher than actual altitude. These altimeters 
are susceptible to developing a slow diaphragm leak, which would affect 
the accuracy of the altimeters. It has been determined that 
insufficient removal of chemical substance on the diaphragm assembly 
during the production process of the altimeter caused the misleading 
display of altitude data. This condition, if not corrected, could 
result in display of misleading altitude data, which could result in 
inadvertent flight into terrain.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed United Instruments, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 13, dated 
March 25, 2016. The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing 
the nonconforming altimeters. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,351 altimeters as 
installed in airplanes and helicopters of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 78084]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Cost per        Cost on U.S.
               Action                      Labor cost           Parts cost        product          operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace altimeter..................  1 work-hour x $85 per           $1,600           $1,685         $2,276,435
                                      hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.
    We are 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

    We 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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 (AD):

United Instruments, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2016-9345; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-CE-028-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 12, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to United Instruments, Inc. 5934 series 
altimeters that were manufactured between January 2015 and February 
2016 and installed in airplanes and helicopters.
    (1) The specific affected serial number altimeters can be found 
in United Instruments, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 
2016, which can be found on the Internet at http://www.unitedinst.com/ServiceBulletinNo13/.
    (2) Altimeters that have been corrected by United Instruments, 
Inc. following Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 2016, are 
not affected by this AD and no further action is necessary.
    (3) Altimeters that have been corrected by United Instruments, 
Inc. can be identified by a yellow dot, approximately \1/4\ inch (6 
mm) in diameter, located approximately 1 inch (25 mm) to the left 
side of the nameplate. The corrected altimeters will also have a 
letter ``M,'' approximately \1/8\ inch (3mm) high, metal stamped on 
the nameplate after the name ``ALTIMETER.''

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 44, Cabin Systems.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of certain altimeters displaying 
higher than actual altitude due to a slow diaphragm leak. This AD 
requires replacing the affected altimeters. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent display of misleading altitude data, which could result 
in inadvertent flight into terrain.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement

    Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace any affected altimeter with a serviceable part following 
United Instruments, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 
2016.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
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 ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Les Lyne, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4190; fax: (316) 946-
4107; email: leslie.lyne@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
United Instruments, Inc., 3625 Comotara Avenue, Wichita, KS 67226; 
telephone (316) 636-9203; fax: (316) 636-9243; email: 
customerservice@unitedinst.com; Internet: www.unitedinst.com. You 
may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 1, 2016.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26807 Filed 11-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P