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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0760; Project Identifier 2019-NE-18-AD; Amendment
39-21108; AD 2020-08-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Thales AVS France SAS Global
Positioning System/Satellite Based Augmentation System Receivers
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Thales AVS France SAS (Thales) Global Positioning System/
Satellite Based Augmentation System (GPS/SBAS) receivers installed on
airplanes and helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports that Thales
GPS/SBAS receivers provided, under certain conditions, erroneous
outputs on aircraft positions. This AD requires the installation of a
software update to the aircraft navigation database and insertion of a
change to the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM). The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 19, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 19, 2020.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service Engineering,
124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-
416-4299; email: wcs_cust_service_eng.gr-sik@lmco.com; Thales AVS
France SAS, 75-77 Avenue Marcel Dassault, 33700 Merignac--
France, Tel: +33 (0)5 24 44 77 40, www.thalesgroup.com; or ATR-GIE
Avions de Transport Regional, 1, Allee Pierre Nadot,
31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; fax +33
(0) 5 62 21 67 18; email continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com. You
may
view this service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch,
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also
available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0760.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0760; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for
Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirk Gustafson, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803;
phone: 781-238-7190; fax: 781-238-7199; email: kirk.gustafson@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Thales GPS/SBAS
receivers installed on airplanes and helicopters. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 5584). The NPRM was
prompted by reports that Thales GPS/SBAS receivers provided, under
certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. The NPRM
proposed to require the installation of a software update to the
aircraft navigation database and insertion of a change to the
applicable AFM. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD 2019-0004, dated January 11, 2019, corrected on January
17, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address the
unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:
It has been determined that, in SBAS areas, in specific
conditions of the GPS satellite constellation in line of sight to
the aircraft, the Thales Topstar 200 LPV GPS/SBAS receiver may
provide an erroneous position on its outputs, which may not be
detected by the integrity check. Depending on the aircraft
installation, this error may not be noticed by the flight crew.
This condition, if not corrected, could possibly compromise the
safety margins when the receiver is used for Localizer Performance
with Vertical guidance (LPV) and/or RNP-AR (Required Navigation
Performance--Authorization Required) operations.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires removal
from the navigation database of LPV procedures and all RNP-AR
procedures in SBAS areas, listed in the SIL. To ensure a reset of
all the GPS computations which may contribute to the erroneous GPS
position output, this [EASA] AD also requires, for certain ATR
aeroplanes (see Note 1 of this [EASA] AD), amendment of the
applicable AFM.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0760.
Comments
The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Task 31-61-00-800-802, ``2. FMS Database Update
for Multifunction Display (MFD)'' of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation,
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) SA S76D-AMM-000, 31-61-00, dated
November 30, 2017. This Task provides instructions for updating the MFD
on affected Sikorsky aircraft.
The FAA also reviewed ATR72 AMM Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 45-
11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated June 1, 2018, and ATR42-400/500 Series AMM
Job Instruction Cards, Doc. No. 45-11-00 LDG 10030-004, dated July 1,
2018. These service documents provide instructions on updating the
navigation databases installed on affected ATR airplanes.
The FAA also reviewed Thales Service Information Letter (SIL) Doc.
No. THAV/SIL-1308, Issue 7, dated September 28, 2018. The SIL describes
procedures to upload navigational database using Thales PMAT software
on affected ATR airplanes.
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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 45 Thales GPS/SBAS receivers
installed on, but not limited to, GIE Avions de Transport
Regional model ATR42 airplanes and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
model S-76D helicopters of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Update navigation database for
GPS/SBAS receiver. |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0
|
$85
|
$3,825
|
| Update AFM |
3 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$255 |
0
|
255
|
11,475
|
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.
The FAA is 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
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will 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 AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):
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