Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13770 · Thales Avionics Traffic Advisory/Resolution Advisory (TA/RA) Vertical Speed Indicator-Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (VSI-TCAS) Indicators, Installed on But Not Limited to Certain Transport Category Airplanes Equipped With TCAS II Change 7 Computers (ACAS II)
Thales Avionics Traffic Advisory/Resolution Advisory (TA/RA) Vertical Speed Indicator-Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (VSI-TCAS) Indicators, Installed on But Not Limited to Certain Transport Category Airplanes Equipped With TCAS II Change 7 Computers (ACAS II)
Thales Avionics traffic advisory/resolution advisory (TA/RA) vertical speed indicator-traffic alert and collision avoidance system (VSI-TCAS) indicators, part number (P/N) 457400-(*), except P/Ns 457400GA1502, 457400GB1502, 457400MA1502, 457400MB1502, 457400ZA1502, and 457400ZB1502, installed on but not limited to Airbus Model A300 B2, A300 B4, and A310 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and Aerospatiale Model ATR42 and ATR72 series airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with TCAS II change 7 computers (ACAS II).
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Thales Avionics TA/RA VSI-TCAS indicators, installed on but not limited to certain transport category airplanes equipped with TCAS II change 7 computers (ACAS II), that requires a revision to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flightcrew to follow the audio annunciation when an RA fail message is triggered during a multi-aircraft encounter. This action also requires modification of the software for the TA/RA VSI-TCAS indicator, which would terminate the requirement for the AFM revision. This action is necessary to prevent the TA/RA VSI-TCAS indicator from displaying a conflicting "RA FAIL" message during a multi-aircraft encounter, which could result in the flightcrew ignoring the correct aural command and traffic display information if the flightcrew believes the TCAS II computer has malfunctioned, and consequently lead to a mid-air collision with other aircraft. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
To prevent the TA/RA VSI-TCAS indicator from displaying a conflicting “RA FAIL” message during a multi-aircraft encounter, which could result in the flightcrew ignoring the correct aural command and traffic display information if the flightcrew believes the TCAS II computer has malfunctioned, and consequently led to a mid-air collision with other aircraft; accomplish the following:
(a) Within 15 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Limitations Section of the AFM to include the following statement (this may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM):
“Limitation:”
When the TA/RA VSI-TCAS indicates an RA fail message, the flightcrew must follow the audio annunciation “Maintain Vertical Speed, Maintain” until “clear of the conflict” audio annunciation has occurred.
Note: When a preventive Don't Climb/Don't Descend resolution advisory (RA) is triggered by simultaneous, multi-aircraft encounter configuration, the TA/RA VSI-TCAS may indicate an RA fail message. The audio annunciation “Maintain Vertical Speed, Maintain” and traffic display information are correct. In this specific case, the flightcrew must follow the audio annunciation and, therefore, maintain the vertical speed until clearance of the conflict condition has occurred.”
Note 1: When a statement identical to that in paragraph (a) of this AD has been included in the general revisions of the AFM, the general revisions may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy of this AD may be removed from the AFM.
(b) Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the software for the TA/RA VSI-TCAS indicator by accomplishing all the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD. Doing this modification terminates the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD. After accomplishing the modification, the AFM limitation required by paragraph (a) of this AD may be removed from the AFM.
| P/N | Thales Avionics service bulletin | Revision level | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 457400EA0311, 457400EB0311, 457400FA0311, 457400FB0311 | 457400-34-083 | 03 | January 26, 2004. |
| 457400GA0011 | 457400-34-085 | 00 | February 5, 2004. |
| 457400GA0311, 457400GA0602, 457400GA0911, 457400GA1100, 457400GA1311, 457400GA1312 | 457400-34-083 | 03 | January 26, 2004. |
| 457400GA1900 | 457400-34-082 | Original | November 28, 2002. |
| 457400GB0011 | 457400-34-085 | 00 | February 5, 2004. |
| 457400GB0911, 457400GB1100, 457400GB1311, 457400GB1312 | 457400-34-083 | 03 | January 26, 2004. |
| 457400GB1900 | 457400-34-082 | Original | November 28, 2002. |
| 457400GB2000 | 457400-34-084 | 02 | December 19, 2003. |
| 457400GB2100, 457400HA1900, 457400JA1900, 457400KA0602, 457400KA1311, 457400KA1900, 457400KB1311, 457400KB1900 | 457400-34-083 | 03 | January 26, 2004. |
| 457400LA2000 | 457400-34-084 | 02 | December 19, 2003. |
| 457400MA0602, 457400MA1311, 457400MB1311, 457400PA1900, 457400PB1900, 457400RA0711, 457400RB0711, 457400SA0711, 457400SB0711, 457400TB0811, 457400TC0811, 457400UA1311, 457400UA1900, 457400UB1900, 457400UB1311, 457400WA0811, 457400WB0811, 457400ZA1900 | 457400-34-083 | 03 | January 26, 2004. |
(c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
(d) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be done in accordance with the applicable service bulletin listed in the following table:
| Service bulletin | Revision level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Thales Avionics Service Bulletin 457400-34-082 | Original | November 28, 2002. |
| Thales Avionics Service Bulletin 457400-34-083 | 03 | January 26, 2004. |
| Thales Avionics Service Bulletin 457400-34-084 | 02 | December 19, 2003. |
| Thales Avionics Service Bulletin 457400-34-085 | 00 | February 5, 2004. |
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 Thales Avionics, Air Transport Avionics, 105 avenue du Général Eisenhower, BP 1147, 31036 Toulouse Cedex 1, France; or Thales Avionics, Regional and Business Aircraft Avionics, 105 avenue du Général Eisenhower, BP 1147, 31036 Toulouse Cedex 1, France; or Thales Avionics, Avionics for Military Aircraft, Rue Toussaint Catros, 33187 Le Haillan Cedex, France. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_ federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness directive F-2004-053, dated April 14, 2004.
