DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0977; Product Identifier 2018-CE-041-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rockwell Collins, Inc. Flight Management Systems

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. (Rockwell Collins) flight management
systems (FMS) installed on airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by
reports of the flight management computer (FMC) software issuing
incorrect turn commands when the altitude climb field is edited or the
temperature compensation is activated on the FMS control display unit.
This proposed AD would require disabling the automatic temperature
compensation feature of the FMS through the configuration strapping
units (CSU) and revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) Limitations
section. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 22, 2019.

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 review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division,
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the avail-
ability 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-2018-0977;
or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Avi Acharya, Aerospace Engineer,
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room
100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 316-946-4192; fax: 316-946-4107;
email: avishek.acharya@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-2018-0977;
Product Identifier 2018-CE-041-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

During flight inspection on a Bombardier Model CRJ-200 airplane,
Nav Canada, which is Canada's civil air navigation service provider,
observed the FMS map displaying an incorrect turn for the Fort St. John
airport instrument landing system runway 29 missed approach while using
temperature compensation. Nav Canada assumed this was only an issue
with the map display and reported the incident to Rockwell Collins.

Rockwell Collins subsequently determined that an error in the
design of the Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 FMC software causes changes to
the procedure-defined turn direction when the procedure has been
significantly modified. The FMS will change the planned database turn
direction to an incorrect turn direction when the altitude climb field
is edited, and the flight crew may not notice the change during climb.
The FMS will also change the planned database turn direction to an
incorrect turn direction if the temperature compensation is activated,
which may go unnoticed by the flight crew with the increased workload
involved with a missed approach procedure. Editing the altitude or
using temperature compensation does not change the flight segment.
However, due to the design error, the software thinks the flight
segment has changed. The change of the planned turn direction can occur
for either left or right turns.

The FMS commanding incorrect turn direction may result in a
collision or controlled flight into terrain.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Rockwell Collins Service Information Letter, CSU-XX00-
18-1, dated June 27, 2018. The service letter contains procedures for
disabling the automatic temperature compensation option in Pro Line 4
and Pro Line 21 FMC systems. We also reviewed Rockwell Collins Service
Information Letter FMC-XX00-18-1, dated June 27, 2018. The service
letter provides instructions for revising the Limitations section of the
AFM by adding prohibitions on editing altitudes for specific Pro Line 4
and Pro Line 21 Flight Management Systems. 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 these same type
designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require disabling the automatic temperature
compensation feature on the FMS through the CSUs. This proposed AD
would also require revising the Limitations section of the AFM by
adding limitations on the use of the temperature compensation feature
and the editing of altitudes.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 2,855 products installed
on airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

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.

This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, domestic business
jet transport airplanes, and associated appliances to the Director of
the Policy and Innovation Division.

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]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):