DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0659; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rockwell Collins, Inc. Traffic
Surveillance System Processing Unit

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 Rockwell Collins, Inc. TSS-4100 Traffic Surveillance System
Processing Units that incorporate TSSA-4100 Field Loadable Software
(FLS) Rockwell Collins part numbers 810-0052-002/ -003/-010/-011/-012/-
100/-101 and are installed on airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted
by five instances of air traffic control observing coasting (extrapolated stale
data) of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data (position/
velocity data). This proposed AD would require installing the TSSA-4100
FLS upgrades on the TSS-4100 units. We are proposing this AD to correct
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 17, 2017.

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 NPRM, contact Rockwell
Collins, Inc., Collins Aviation Services, 400 Collins Road NE., M/S
164-100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52498-0001; telephone: 888-265-5467 (U.S.) or
319-265-5467; fax: 319-295-4941 (outside U.S.); email:
techmanuals@rockwellcollins.com; Internet:
http://www.rockwellcollins.com/Services_and_Support/Publications.aspx. 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.

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-2017-
0659; 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: Paul Rau, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100,
Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-4149; fax: 316-946-4107; email:
paul.rau@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-2017-0659;
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-014-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 were notified of five instances of air traffic control observing
coasting (extrapolated stale data) automatic dependent surveillance-
broadcast data (ADS-B position/velocity data) on a related Rockwell
Collins, Inc. platform that shares a common architecture with the TSS-
4100 Traffic Surveillance System Processing Units, Rockwell Collins
part number (RCPN) 822-2132-001, that are installed on airplanes. The
affected units incorporate TSSA-4100 Field Loadable Software (FLS)
RCPNs 810-0052-002/-003/-010/-011/-012/ -100/-101. An investigation of
the events determined that the ADS-B position and the Mode S/traffic
alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) altitude of the TSS-4100
are affected. The extrapolation of the data occurs with no warning to the crew.

This condition, if not corrected, could result in misleading
position and/or altitude being reported by the airplane. Misleading
altitude data can adversely affect TCAS and possibly lead to mid-air
collision due to an incorrect initial resolution advisory (RA) and/or
an incorrect RA modification.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Rockwell Collins Service Information Letter, TSSA-4100-
SIL-10-1, Revision No. 9, dated March 31, 2017. The service letter
describes procedures for determining the part number of the affected
FLS and the installation procedure for updating the FLS. 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 of this NPRM.

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 updating the TSSA-4100 FLS on the
TSS-4100 Traffic Surveillance System Processing Unit.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,000 products installed
on airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered by the manufacturer, thereby reducing the cost impact
on affected individuals. We do not control manufacturer 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

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]