Airworthiness Directives: Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92-CE-60-AD; Amendment 39-8799; AD 94-02-02]

Airworthiness Directives: Rockwell International/Collins Air

Transport Division DME-700 Distance Measuring Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to Rockwell International/Air Transport Division (Collins) DME-

700 distance measuring equipment (DME) installed on aircraft. This

action requires modifying these DME units to ensure they are

functioning properly. Several reports of the affected DME units failing

to process and update distance outputs, and reports of these units

establishing a continuous restart mode upon power application prompted

this AD. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent

improper operation of this equipment, which could result in

navigational errors.

DATES: Effective February 21, 1994.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in

the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as

of February 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained

from Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division, 400 Collins

Road, NE; Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52498. This information may also be

examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register,

800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger A. Souter, Aerospace

Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road,

room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316)

946-4134; facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations to include an AD that applies to certain Collins

DME-700 distance measurement equipment installed on aircraft was

published in the Federal Register on January 25, 1993 (58 FR 5949). The

action proposed to require modifying these DME units to ensure that

they are functioning properly. The proposed modifications would be

accomplished in accordance with the following Collins service bulletins

(SB) (1) SB 20, Revision 1, DME-700-34-20, dated August 30, 1991, which

when incorporated prevents a condition known as ``sleeping DME's''; and

(2) Collins SB 24, DME-700-34-24, dated May 15, 1992; Collins SB 25,

DME-700-34-25, dated November 11, 1992; and Collins SB 26, DME-700-34-

26, dated October 21, 1992, as applicable, which when incorporated

prevent a condition known as ``deaf DME's''.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate

in the making of this amendment. Based on the comments received, the

proposal was changed to add a modification that went beyond the scope

of that which was originally proposed.

Accordingly, the FAA issued a supplementary NPRM that incorporated

minor revisions and added the additional modification. The proposed

actions specified in the Supplemental NPRM would be accomplished in

accordance with the following, as applicable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part Nos. applicable

Collins SB/condition Date (622-4540-XXX)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SB 20, Revision 1/ Aug. 30, 1991....... All applicable DME-700

Sleeping. Units, -020, -120, with

serial number 1 through

4247.

SB 25/Deaf and Distance Nov. 11, 1992....... All applicable DME-700

Jumping. Units, converts -020, -

021, or -022 to -023.

SB 20 most be installed

prior to or in

conjunction with SB 25.

SB 24 is incorporated

by SB 25.

SB 26/Deaf and Distance Oct. 21, 1992....... All applicable DME-700

Jumping. Units, converts -120,

or -121, to -122. SB 20

most be installed prior

to or in conjunction

with SB 26. SB 26

eliminates the need for

SB 21.

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Interested persons were again afforded an opportunity to comment on

the proposed action. Due consideration has been given to the five

comments received.

Two commenters concur with the proposed rule as written.

Another commenter (Collins) states that there are two errors in the

part numbers referenced in the proposed AD: (1) part number (P/N) 622-

4540-022 was referenced as P/N 622-4540-22 in the Applicability section

of the AD; and (2) in the chart in paragraph (c) of the proposed AD,

the sentence that consists of the following words: ``All applicable

DME-700 Units, Converts -022, -021, or -022 to -023.'' should be

changed to ``All applicable DME-700 Units, Converts -020, -021, or -022

to -023.'' The FAA concurs and has changed the proposed AD accordingly.

One commenter reports that the Airbus Model A330 airplane is not

yet certificated, and should not be included in the list of affected

airplane models. The FAA concurs that this airplane is not certificated

and has deleted it from the list of possible affected airplanes.

However, the Applicability section of the proposed AD is worded as

``DME equipment that is installed on, but not limited to, the following

model airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category:''.

If this airplane would become certificated for operation with the

Collins DME-700 equipment, then this action would apply to these

airplanes.

Another commenter states that these DME units were never

certificated on Boeing Model B757 airplanes, and should therefore be

removed from the applicability of the proposed AD. The FAA concurs and

has revised the proposed AD accordingly.

This same commenter suggests several minor editorial revisions and

corrections to increase the understanding of the proposed AD. The FAA

concurs that these changes would improve clarity and has revised the

proposed AD accordingly.

After careful review of all available information including the

comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the

public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for

the changes referenced above and minor editorial corrections. The FAA

has determined that these changes and corrections will not change the

meaning of the AD nor add any additional burden upon the public than

was already proposed.

The condition specified by the required action is not caused by

actual hours time-in-service (TIS) of the airplane that the equipment

is installed in. There is no correlation between improper operation of

the equipment and the age or number of times the equipment is utilized.

Based on this, the compliance time of this AD is presented in calendar

time instead of hours TIS.

The FAA estimates that 518 DME-700 units installed on airplanes in

the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take

approximately 7 workhours per unit to accomplish the required action,

and that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts

will be provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the owner/operator.

Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $199,430. This cost figure is based on the

assumption that none of the affected airplane owners/operators have

accomplished the required action.

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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is

not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;

(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) 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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained

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, Incorporation by

reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new AD:

94-02-02 Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division:

Amendment 39-8799; Docket No. 92-CE-60-AD.

Applicability: DME-700 distance measuring equipment (all serial

numbers) (part numbers 622-4540-020, 622- 4540-021, 622-4540-022,

622-4540-120, and 622-4540-121), that is installed on, but not

limited to, the following model airplanes (all serial numbers),

certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturer Models

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Boeing............................. B737, B747-400, and B767.

McDonnell Douglas.................. MD 80, MD 11.

Airbus............................. A300, A310, A300-600, A320, and

A340.

Fokker............................. F-100.

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Compliance: Required within the next 12 calendar months after

the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent improper operation of these DME units, which could

result in navigational errors, accomplish the following:

(a) Ensure that Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC) 429 distance

outputs are processed and updated by modifying the distance

measuring equipment in accordance with the applicable service

information presented in the chart in paragraph (c) of this AD.

(b) Ensure proper initialization and correct DME distance

indication by modifying the distance measuring equipment in

accordance with the applicable service information presented in the

chart in paragraph (c) of this AD.

(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be accomplished in accordance

with the Accomplishment Instructions section of the applicable

service bulletins (SB) presented in the following chart:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part Nos. applicable

Collins SB/condition Date (622-4540-XXX)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SB 20, Revision 1/ Aug. 30, 1991....... All applicable DME-700

Sleeping. Units, -020, -120, with

serial number 1 through

4247.

SB 25/Deaf, Sleeping, Nov. 11, 1992....... All applicable DME-700

and Distance Jumping. Units, converts -020, -

021, or -022 to -023.

SB 20 must be installed

prior to or in

conjunction with SB 25.

SB 24 is incorporated

by SB 25.

SB 26/Deaf, Sleeping, Oct. 21, 1992....... All applicable DME-700

and Distance Jumping. Units, converts -120 or

-121 to -122. SB 20

must be installed prior

to or in conjunction

with SB 26. SB 26

eliminates the need for

SB21.

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Note 1: The sleeping DME modification referenced in SB 20 was

incorporated at manufacture beginning with serial number 4248.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR

21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the

requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the

compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office

(ACO), 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 ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(f) The modifications required by this AD shall be done in

accordance with Collins Service Bulletin 20, Revision 1, DME-700-34-

20, dated August 30, 1991; Collins Service Bulletin 25, DME-600-34-

25, dated November 11, 1992; and Collins Service Bulletin 26, DME-

700-34-26, dated October 21, 1992, as applicable. This incorporation

by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies may be

obtained from Rockwell International/Collins Air Transport Division,

400 Collins Road, NE; Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52498. Copies 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.

(g) This amendment (39-8799) becomes effective on February 21,

1994.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 11, 1994.

Henry A. Armstrong,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-1088 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]

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