AD 99-21-28

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series airplanes, that currently requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to require the flightcrew to discontinue use of any Instrument Landing System (ILS) receiver for which a certain caution message is displayed. It also requires, for certain airplanes, replacing any faulty ILS receiver with a new, serviceable, or modified unit, and provides for optional terminating action for the AFM revisions. This amendment requires accomplishment of the previous optional terminating action. This amendment is prompted by a pilot s report of errors in the glide slope deviation provided by an ILS receiver. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct faulty ILS receivers and to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the potential hazard of performing ILS approaches using a localizer deviation from a faulty ILS receiver, and advised of the procedures necessary to address that hazard. An erroneous localizer deviation could result in a landing outside the lateral boundary of the runway.

Final rule.

99-21-28 AIRBUS INDUSTRIE: Amendment 39-11374. Docket 99-NM-25-AD. Supersedes AD 98-17-05, Amendment 39-10707.

Applicability: Model A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with AlliedSignal RIA-35B Instrument Landing System (ILS) receivers, part number (P/N) 066-50006-0202; excluding airplanes on which RIA-35B ILS receiver P/N 066-50006-1202 [Airbus Modification 27251 (for Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes) or Modification 46264 (for Model A330 and A340 series airplanes)] has been installed.

NOTE 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To detect and correct faulty ILS receivers and to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the potential hazard of performing ILS approaches using a localizer deviation from a faulty ILS receiver, and advised of the procedures necessary to address that hazard, accomplish the following:

RESTATEMENT OF ACTIONS REQUIRED BY AD 98-17-05, AMENDMENT 39-10707:

(a) Within 10 days after August 28, 1998 (the effective date of AD 98-17-05, amendment 39-10707), accomplish the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD.

(1) Revise the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include the following statement. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM.

"Instrument Landing (ILS) 1(2) Fault

If "ILS 1(2) FAULT," electronic centralized aircraft monitor (ECAM) caution, is triggered at any time during the flight, the affected ILS receiver must be considered as no longer available until it is replaced, and the flight crew must make the appropriate entry in the aircraft maintenance log prior to the next flight.

During an ILS or LOC approach, the glide slope deviation and localizer deviation from ILS receivers 1 and 2 must be monitored and compared. If a discrepancy between the glide slope deviation and/or localizer deviation provided by ILS receivers 1 and 2 is experienced, interrupt the ILS approach.

Do not conduct ILS or LOC approaches using a single ILS receiver.

If ILS 1 has experienced an unannunciated failure there may be late or false ground proximity warning system (GPWS) alerts/callouts. Affected GPWS features may include sink rate alerts, glide slope deviation alerts, and altitude callouts."

(2) Following accomplishment of the AFM revision required by paragraph (a)(1) of this AD, if a caution message reading "ILS 1 FAULT," "ILS 2 FAULT," or "ILS 1+2 FAULT" is displayed intermittently or continuously on ECAM during any portion of any flight: Within 10 days after the message is first displayed, remove the faulty ILS receiver and install either a new or serviceable part that has the same P/N as the ILS receiver that was removed from the airplane or a part that has been modified in accordance with AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998.

NOTE 2: The ECAM messages described in paragraph (a)(2) of this AD, when displayed to the pilot, are normally preceded by "NAV" indicating a fault in the navigation system.

(b) As of August 28, 1998, no person shall install on any airplane an AlliedSignal RIA-35B ILS receiver, P/N 066-50006-0202, that has been found to be discrepant [that is, an ILS receiver for which one of the caution messages specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this AD was displayed on the ECAM] unless the discrepancy has been corrected by modifying the ILS receiver in accordance with AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998.

NEW ACTIONS REQUIRED BY THIS AD:

(c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace all RIA-35B ILS receivers, P/N 066-50006-0202, with RIA-35B ILS receivers that have been modified in accordance with AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998; on which the P/N's have been converted to 066-50006-1202. Such replacement constitutes terminating action for the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD. After the replacement has been accomplished, the limitations required by paragraph (a)(1) of this AD may be removed from the AFM.

NOTE 3: Modification of all AlliedSignal RIA-35B ILS receivers, P/N 066-50006-0202, accomplished prior to August 28, 1998, in accordance with AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-7), dated April 1998, is considered acceptable for compliance with the modification specified in this amendment.

NOTE 4: Airbus Industrie Service Bulletin A320-34-1163, Revision 01, dated August 19, 1998 (for Model A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes), Service Bulletin A330-34-3068, dated April 28, 1998 (for Model A330 series airplanes), and Service Bulletin A340-34-4073, dated April 28, 1998 (for Model A340 series airplanes), provide additional information on the installation of RIA-35B ILS receiver part number 066-50006-1202.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used ifapproved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Operations Inspector or Principal Avionics Inspector or Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.

NOTE 5: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

(e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(f) The replacement shall be done in accordance with AlliedSignal Electronic and Avionics Systems Service Bulletin M-4431 (RIA-35B-34-7), Revision 1, dated May 1998. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from AlliedSignal Aerospace, Technical Publications, Dept. 65-70, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(g) This amendment becomes effective on November 22, 1999.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 98-17-05, amendment 39-10707 (63 FR 43294, August 13, 1998), which is applicable to certain Airbus Model A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series airplanes, was published in the Federal Register on August 17, 1999 (64 FR 44663). The action proposed to supersede AD 98-17-05 to continue to require the flightcrew to discontinue use of any ILS receiver for which a certain caution message is displayed. For certain airplanes, the action proposed to continue to require replacement of any faulty ILS receiver with a new, serviceable, or modified unit. The action proposed to add a new requirement for replacement of all existing RIA-35B ILS receivers with modified parts, which would constitute terminating action for the AFM revisions.

Comments
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due considerationhas been given to the single comment received.
The commenter supports the proposed rule.

Conclusion
After careful review of the available data, including the comment noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact
There are approximately 191 airplanes of U.S. registry that will be affected by this AD.

The AFM revision that is currently required by AD 98-17-05, and retained in this AD, takes approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the currently required actions on U.S. operators is estimated to be $11,460, or $60 per airplane.

The new replacement that is required by this AD action will take approximately 5 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $157 per airplane. Based on these figures, thecost impact of the replacement required by this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $87,287, or $457 per airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a"significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a"significant rule"under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption"ADDRESSES."

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.
39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-10707 (63 FR 43294, August 13, 1998), and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD), amendment 39-11374, to read as follows: