Airworthiness Directives; United Instruments, Inc. Series Altimeters

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain United Instruments, Inc. 5934 series altimeters that were manufactured between January 2015 and February 2016 and installed in airplanes and helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of certain altimeters displaying higher than actual altitude due to a slow diaphragm leak. This proposed AD would require replacing the affected altimeters. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent display of misleading altitude data, which could result in inadvertent flight into terrain.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.
• 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.
• 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 proposed AD, contact United Instruments, Inc., 3625 Comotara Avenue, Wichita, KS 67226; telephone (316) 636-9203; fax: (316) 636-9243; email: customerservice@unitedinst.com; Internet: www.unitedinst.com. You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 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 on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9345; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Les Lyne, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4190; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: leslie.lyne@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2016-9345; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-028-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

We received a report that certain United Instruments, Inc. 5934 series altimeters that were manufactured between January 2015 and February 2016 may display higher than actual altitude. These altimeters are susceptible to developing a slow diaphragm leak, which would affect the accuracy of the altimeters. It has been determined that insufficient removal of chemical substance on the diaphragm assembly during the production process of the altimeter caused the misleading display of altitude data. This condition, if not corrected, could result in display of misleading altitude data, which could result in inadvertent flight into terrain.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed United Instruments, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 2016. The service bulletin describes procedures for replacing the nonconforming altimeters. 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.

FAA's Determination

We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,351 altimeters as installed in airplanes and helicopters of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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.

We are 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

We 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) Is not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(4) 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 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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

United Instruments, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2016-9345; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-028-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

We must receive comments by December 12, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to United Instruments, Inc. 5934 series altimeters that were manufactured between January 2015 and February 2016 and installed in airplanes and helicopters.

(1) The specific affected serial number altimeters can be found in United Instruments, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 2016, which can be found on the Internet at http://www.unitedinst.com/ServiceBulletinNo13/.

(2) Altimeters that have been corrected by United Instruments, Inc. following Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 2016, are not affected by this AD and no further action is necessary.

(3) Altimeters that have been corrected by United Instruments, Inc. can be identified by a yellow dot, approximately 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, located approximately 1 inch (25 mm) to the left side of the nameplate. The corrected altimeters will also have a letter “M,” approximately 1/8 inch (3mm) high, metal stamped on the nameplate after the name “ALTIMETER.”

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 44, Cabin Systems.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by reports of certain altimeters displaying higher than actual altitude due to a slow diaphragm leak. This AD requires replacing the affected altimeters. We are issuing this AD to prevent display of misleading altitude data, which could result in inadvertent flight into terrain.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Replacement

Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace any affected altimeter with a serviceable part following United Instruments, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 13, dated March 25, 2016.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 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 ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.

(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 Les Lyne, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4190; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: leslie.lyne@faa.gov.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact United Instruments, Inc., 3625 Comotara Avenue, Wichita, KS 67226; telephone (316) 636-9203; fax: (316) 636-9243; email: customerservice@unitedinst.com; Internet: www.unitedinst.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.