DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0883; Project Identifier 2019-CE-034-AD; Amendment
39-21460; AD 2021-05-17]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rockwell Collins, Inc. Flight Display
System Application

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2019-
12-09 for certain Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rockwell Collins) FDSA-6500
flight display system applications installed on airplanes. AD 2019-12-
09 imposed operating limitations on the traffic collision avoidance
system (TCAS). AD 2019-12-09 was prompted by conflict between the TCAS
display indications and aural alerts that may occur during a resolution
advisory (RA) scenario. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-12-
09 until a software upgrade is completed. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 29, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 29,
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Rockwell Collins at Collins Aviation Services, 400 Collins Road
NE, M/S 164-100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52498-0001; phone: (319) 295-9258;
fax: (319) 295-4351; email: techmanuals@rockwellcollins.com; website:
https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Services and Support/Publications.aspx.
You may view this service information at the Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (816) 329-4148. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0883.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0883; 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, 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: Nhien Hoang, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone:
(316) 946-4157; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: Nhien.Hoang@faa.gov or
Wichita-COS@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2019-12-09, Amendment 39-19664 (84 FR
32260, July 8, 2019), (AD 2019-12-09). AD 2019-12-09 applied to certain
part-numbered Rockwell Collins FDSA-6500 flight display system
applications that may be installed on, but not limited to, Bombardier
Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (604 variant) airplanes and Textron Aviation
Inc. Models 525B, B200, B200C, B200CGT, B200GT, B300, B300C, and C90GTi
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 14,
2020 (85 FR 80686).
AD 2019-12-09 prohibited operation with the TCAS in TA/RA mode by
requiring a revision to the Limitations section of the airplane flight
manual (AFM) or AFM supplement (AFMS) and by fabricating and installing
a placard on each aircraft primary flight display. AD 2019-12-09
resulted from a report that a conflict could occur between the TCAS
primary cockpit display indications and the aural alerts during an RA
scenario. The FAA issued AD 2019-12-09 as an interim action to address
the immediate urgency to prevent the pilot from over-correcting or
under-correcting for aircraft separation, which may result in a mid-air
collision.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to retain the actions of AD 2019-12-
09 and install updated software on the flight data system applications
within 12 months. Once the software is upgraded, the FAA proposed to
allow removal of the limitations and placard. Because the requirements
proposed in the NPRM had a longer compliance time, the FAA provided the
public an opportunity to comment. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adoption of the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Rockwell Collins Service Information Letter FDSA-
6500-19-1, Revision No. 2, dated June 12, 2019. This service
information letter contains information regarding hardware and software
compatibility for the FDSA-6500 flight display system and provides
software download instructions. 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
ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 932 FDSA-6500 flight display
system applications installed on 311 airplanes worldwide. The FAA has
no way of knowing the number of FDSA-6500 applications installed on
airplanes of U.S. Registry. The estimated cost on U.S. operators
reflects the maximum possible cost based on worldwide applications.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.

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

The FAA has determined that 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 that 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.

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2019-12-09, Amendment 39-19664 (84
FR 32260, July 8, 2019); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: