Proposed Rule2021-18385
Airworthiness Directives; Various Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 27, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various airplanes modified with certain configurations of Garmin G3X Touch Electronic Flight Instrument System installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01899WI or Garmin GI 275 Multi-Function Display System (MFDS) installed per STC No. SA02658SE. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fuel quantity disparity between the amount of fuel indicated and the actual amount of fuel. This proposed AD would require modifying the resistive fuel probe interface. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48070-48078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18385]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0715; Project Identifier AD-2021-00259-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Various Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for various airplanes modified with certain configurations of Garmin
G3X Touch Electronic Flight Instrument System installed per
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01899WI or Garmin GI 275
Multi-Function Display System (MFDS) installed per STC No. SA02658SE.
This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fuel quantity disparity
between the amount of fuel indicated and the actual amount of fuel.
This proposed AD would require modifying the resistive fuel probe
interface. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 12,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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 Garmin
International, Garmin Aviation Support, 1200 E 151st Street, Olathe, KS
66062; phone: (866) 739-5687; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ceafb8a7a1a0a7adbd8ea9afbca3a7a0e0ada1a3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4524332c2a2b2c263605222437282c2b6b262a28">[email protected]</span></a>; website:
<a href="https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/">https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/</a>. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0715; 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, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Marks, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone:
(316) 946-4153; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c2a9a7b4abacecafa3b0a9b182a4a3a3eca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82e9e7f4ebecacefe3f0e9f1c2e4e3e3ace5edf4">[email protected]</span></a> or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d681bfb5bebfa2b7fb95998596b0b7b7f8b1b9a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9acdf3f9f2f3eefbb7d9d5c9dafcfbfbb4fdf5ec">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0715; Project Identifier
AD-2021-00259-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Kevin
Marks, Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport
Road, Wichita, KS 67209. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA was notified of a Piper production line issue with the
installation of a Garmin G3X Touch Electronic Flight Instrument System
installed under STC No. SA01899WI. After calibration and fueling the
airplane to a known level, the flight crew noted that the fuel quantity
indicator displayed a higher level of fuel.
The Garmin G3X Touch Electronic Flight Instrument System, when
interfaced with the Garmin GEA 24 (Engine Airframe Adapter) for display
of the fuel quantity, uses a 1K ohm resistor inline between the GEA 24
and the airplane fuel quantity resistance style sending unit (float).
This resistor provides lightning protection to the fuel tank as
required by 14 CFR 23.954.
Use of the 1K resistor causes a GEA error with changing resistor
temperature. The farther the actual (ambient) temperature of the
resistor is from the temperature of the fuel quantity calibration, the
larger the error. The lower the operating resistance of the fuel
sending unit, the larger the error. The largest errors occur in
installations with fuel sending units having an operational range less
than 100 ohms. The Garmin GI 275 MFDS installed under STC No.
SA02658SE, when interfaced with the Garmin GEA 24 for display of the
fuel quantity, is also subject to this unsafe condition.
The displayed fuel quantity can have an error as much as four
gallons/fuel tank with the display indicating four gallons with an
empty tank. This condition, if not addressed, could result in fuel
starvation and engine shutdown with consequent loss of airplane
control.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin No. 2134,
Revision A, and Garmin
[[Page 48071]]
Mandatory STC Service Bulletin No. 2135, Revision A, both dated April
23, 2021. This service information specifies procedures for modifying
the GEA 24 resistive fuel probe interface. These documents are distinct
since they apply to different STCs. 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.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA also reviewed Master Drawing List (MDL) Document No. 005-
01320-00, Revision 10, for STC No. SA01899WI, and MDL Drawing No. 005-
01208-41, Revision 10, for STC No. SA02658SE, both dated April 23,
2021. This service information contains the type design data for
installation of the STC. Revision 10 introduces a new fuel quantity
interface and configuration to eliminate the unsafe condition described
previously.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require modifying the resistive fuel probe
interface. The proposed AD would apply to airplanes on the approved
model list for STC No. SA01899WI, installed in accordance with MDL
Document No. 005-01320-00, Revision 9 or earlier, and STC No.
SA02658SE, installed in accordance with MDL Drawing No. 005-01208-41,
Revision 9 or earlier, if the installation is interfaced with a Garmin
Engine Adapter GEA 24 connected to resistive fuel probes.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 920 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Modify fuel probe interface and 8 work-hours x $85 per $10 $690 $634,800
recalibrate the fuel system. hour = $680.
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The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this
proposed 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 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Various Airplanes: Docket No. FAA-2021-0715; Project Identifier AD-
2021-00259-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 12, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all serial numbers of the airplane models
listed in table 1 to paragraph (c), certificated in any category,
that are either:
(1) Modified with a Garmin G3X Touch Electronic Flight
Instrument System under Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No.
SA01899WI, installed in accordance with Master Drawing List (MDL)
Document No. 005-01320-00, Revision 9 or earlier, interfaced with a
Garmin Engine Adapter GEA 24 connected to resistive fuel probes; or
(2) Modified with a Garmin GI 275 Multi-Function Display System
under STC No. SA02658SE, installed in accordance with MDL Revision 9
or earlier, interfaced with a Garmin Engine Adapter GEA 24 connected
to resistive fuel probes.
Note 1 to paragraph (c): Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin
No. 2134, Revision A, and Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin No.
2135, Revision A, both dated April 23, 2021, contain information for
how to determine if your airplane has a resistive probe interface.
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(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2841, Fuel Quantity
Indicator.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of fuel quantity disparities
between the amount of fuel indicated and the actual amount of fuel.
The FAA is issuing this AD to ensure that the amount of fuel
indicated is the amount of fuel available. The unsafe condition, if
not addressed, could result in fuel starvation and engine shutdown
with consequent loss of airplane control.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Action
Within 100 hours time-in-service after the effective date of
this AD or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs first, modify the fuel probe interface by following
the Modification Instructions in Garmin Mandatory STC Service
Bulletin No. 2134, Revision A, or Garmin Mandatory STC Service
Bulletin No. 2135, Revision A, both dated April 23, 2021, whichever
is applicable.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the
person identified in Related Information.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Marks,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport
Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4153; fax: (316) 946-4107;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0c67697a656222616d7e677f4c6a6d6d226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80ebe5f6e9eeaeede1f2ebf3c0e6e1e1aee7eff6">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88dfe1ebe0e1fce9a5cbc7dbc8eee9e9a6efe7fe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="77201e141f1e03165a3438243711161659101801">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Garmin International, Garmin Aviation Support, 1200 E 151st Street,
Olathe, KS 66062; phone: (866) 739-5687; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5332253a3c3d3a3020133432213e3a3d7d303c3e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b3a2d3234353238281b3c3a2936323575383436">[email protected]</span></a>;
website: <a href="https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/">https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/</a>. You may view
this referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas
City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued on August 20, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18385 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
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