Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
SW-18-31
November 21, 2018
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) informs
registered owners/operators of an airworthiness concern for aircraft
with an Aspen Avionics, Inc. (Aspen), Evolution EFD1000 Primary Flight
Display (PFD), an EFD1000 Multi-Function Display (MFD), and/or an
EFD500 MFD unit as installed by Supplementary Type Certificate (STC)
No. SA10822SC. These units are installed in different configurations
on, but not limited to, the aircraft makes and models listed in the
attachment below. Specifically, this SAIB notifies owners and operators
of temporary loss of all flight display information due to blanking
during reset. In installations where multiple Aspen EFDs provide
redundancy, this may result in loss of all altitude and airspeed
reference during the reset period.
At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that
would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
We were recently notified that there have been numerous reports of
Aspen EFD1000 PFD, EFD1000 MFD, EFD1000 EBD, and EFD500 MFD units with
software version 2.9 and the ADS-B IN (FIS-B) Weather Interface option
repeatedly resetting itself in-flight. The reset occurs between five-
to tenminute intervals. During the time of the reset, the pilot might
not have any EFD displayed information including access to altitude and
airspeed for up to one minute. The cause of this safety issue is
currently under investigation; however, preliminary information
suggests that the cause of the continuous reset is related to the ADS-B
IN interface. Pulling the ADS-B circuit breaker as described in section
3.2.6 of the Flight Manual supplement, has been demonstrated to resolve
the issue.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends that owners and operators flying with Aspen EFD1000
and/or EFD500 units with software version 2.9 and the ADS-B IN (FIS-B)
Weather Interface option installed restrict flight to Visual Flight
Rules only and suspend night operations to allow safe operation in the
event of loss of flight display functionality. Alternatively, the FAA
recommends disabling the ADS-B IN (FIS-B) option.
The FAA requests that owners and operators of any ADS-B IN (FIS-B)
enabled aircraft and the owners and operators of Aspen EFD flight
display notify the FAA contact listed below of any similar events.
Owners and operators should be advised that service information from Aspen is forthcoming.
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 21200056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be
approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.