80 FR 12698 - Underwater Locating Devices (Acoustic) (Self-Powered)
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 46 (March 10, 2015)
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 46 (March 10, 2015)
| Page Range | 12698-12699 | |
| FR Document | 2015-05501 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 12698-12699] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-05501] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Underwater Locating Devices (Acoustic) (Self-Powered) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, DOT. ACTION: Notice to extend the revocation date of Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-121 and C-121a, Underwater Locating Devices (ULD) (Acoustic) (Self-Powered). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Notice extends the planned revocation date of Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization for the production of Underwater Locating Devices (ULD) (Acoustic) (Self-Powered) manufactured to TSO- C121 and TSO C-121a specifications. This action is necessary to facilitate an efficient transition to UDLs with a 90-day minimum battery operating life manufactured to the TSO-C121b specifications. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Barry, AIR-130, Federal Aviation Administration, 470 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 4102, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone 202-267-1665, Fax 202-267-8589, email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The FAA published a Notice in the Federal Resister, 76 FR 52734, August 23, 2011, announcing the planned revocation of TSO-C121 and TSO- C121a. Notice of that conformation was published in the Federal Register, 77 FR 13174, March 5, 2012. Thus far, only two manufacturers currently hold TSO authorizations (TSOAs) under TSO-C121 or TSO-C121a; both are domestic. Both manufacturers are now authorized to produce longer duration TSO-C121b units as envisioned by the March 5, 2012 Federal Register notice. One manufacturer received its TSO-C121b authorization in December 2014, the other in February 2015. Although both manufacturers received approval to manufacture devices meeting the current standard, the TSOA by itself does not authorize installation in an aircraft. Recent events have driven additional testing requirements for installation of lithium batteries, which these devices contain. Prior to the FAA's issuing the TSOAs to the two applicants, testing of the lithium batteries produced satisfactory results, such that the newly approved TSO-C121b devices will contain the effects of catastrophic battery failures. The ULD manufacturer's data may be used to support installations of the device on an aircraft, but each installer must analyze their design for safety impacts on their aircraft. A major aircraft manufacturer requested additional time to complete testing and analysis of the TSO-C121b device's installation. They also requested additional time to update their part numbers and drawings in their various Type Certificated (TC) aircraft once the analysis is complete. Granting this additional time will prevent a disruption in aircraft production as the necessary documentation changes are updated to reflect the current production of TSO-C121b devices. Conclusion Based on the recent award of TSO-C121b authorizations, additional testing and analysis of lithium battery [[Page 12699]] installations and the lead time required to update required documentation, the FAA has delayed the revocation of TSO-C121 and TSO- C121a authorizations to December 1, 2015. Issued in Washington, DC. on March 4, 2015. Susan J. M. Cabler, Assistant Manager, Design, Manufacturing and Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2015-05501 Filed 3-9-15; 08:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
![12698 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Notices
further increases the potential for necessary. Manufacturers with ELT necessary to facilitate an efficient
inconsistent and unsatisfactory designs incorporating hook and loop transition to UDLs with a 90-day
installations; fasteners which failed to perform their minimum battery operating life
(2) Hook and loop fasteners closed intended function in accidents either manufactured to the TSO–C121b
with proper tension may stretch or have revised or are in the process of specifications.
loosen over time due to wear, fluids, revising their designs, minimizing the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
vibration, and repeated use, leading to need for policy in this area. John Barry, AIR–130, Federal Aviation
insufficient tension to retain the ELT; (5) Withdrawal of ELT TSO
(3) Hook and loop fasteners closed Administration, 470 L’Enfant Plaza,
Authorizations. Not pursued. SW., Suite 4102, Washington, DC 20024.
with proper tension do not provide Manufacturers with ELT designs
stated retention capability due to debris Telephone 202–267–1665, Fax 202–
incorporating hook and loop fasteners 267–8589, email: john.barry@faa.gov.
which can contaminate the hooks and that failed to perform their intended
loops of the fastener; and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
function have either revised or are
(4) Hook and loop fasteners closed revising their designs, minimizing the Background
with proper tension degrade due to need for this action.
environmental factors such as repeated The FAA published a Notice in the
heating and cooling cycles, temperature Conclusion Federal Resister, 76 FR 52734, August
extremes, and contamination resulting 23, 2011, announcing the planned
The FAA issued an SAIB providing
from location in equipment areas. revocation of TSO–C121 and TSO–
ELT installation and maintenance
C121a. Notice of that conformation was
FAA Actions guidance and revised TSO–C126a to
published in the Federal Register, 77 FR
eliminate hook and loop fasteners from
After publishing our initial intent to 13174, March 5, 2012. Thus far, only
future TSO designs. The FAA is not
withdraw the TSO Authorizations two manufacturers currently hold TSO
issuing an airworthiness directive or a
(TSOA) for TSO–C91a, and TSO–C126/ authorizations (TSOAs) under TSO–
policy disallowing installation approval
126a (See 135 FR 41,473 (2012)), the C121 or TSO–C121a; both are domestic.
of ELTs that use hook and loop
FAA considered five courses of action to Both manufacturers are now authorized
fasteners. Lastly, the FAA decided not
mitigate safety concerns with the use of to produce longer duration TSO–C121b
to take the action of withdrawing the
hook and loop fasteners to retain ELTs. units as envisioned by the March 5,
TSO authorizations of ELTs utilizing
These actions addressed design, 2012 Federal Register notice. One
hook and loop fasteners as a mounting
production, and airworthiness manufacturer received its TSO–C121b
mechanism, but ask those aircraft
approvals for both the TSO and retrofit authorization in December 2014, the
owners/operators with ELTs secured
for existing installations. Below is a other in February 2015. Although both
with hook and loop fasteners in their
summary of the actions and their manufacturers received approval to
aircraft to voluntarily switch to a metal
outcomes: manufacture devices meeting the
strap type restraint method. Therefore,
(1) Recommendation to revise current standard, the TSOA by itself
the proposed June 30, 2014 date for
Installation and Maintenance manuals. does not authorize installation in an
TSOA withdrawals is no longer
The FAA published a Safety Awareness aircraft. Recent events have driven
applicable.
Information Bulletin (SAIB) HQ–12–32, additional testing requirements for
Hook and Loop Style Fasteners as a Issued in Washington, DC, on March 4, installation of lithium batteries, which
Mounting Mechanism for Emergency 2015. these devices contain. Prior to the
Locator Transmitters, on May 23, 2012. Susan J.M. Cabler, FAA’s issuing the TSOAs to the two
The SAIB outlined actions ELT Acting Manager, Design, Manufacturing, and applicants, testing of the lithium
manufacturers could take to improve Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification batteries produced satisfactory results,
their installation and maintenance Service. such that the newly approved TSO–
instructions to mitigate the concerns [FR Doc. 2015–05500 Filed 3–9–15; 8:45 am] C121b devices will contain the effects of
with hook and loop retention. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P catastrophic battery failures. The ULD
(2) Revised TSO–C126a for 406 MHz manufacturer’s data may be used to
ELTs. The FAA published TSO–C126b, support installations of the device on an
406 MHz Emergency Locator DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION aircraft, but each installer must analyze
Transmitters, on November 26, 2012. their design for safety impacts on their
Federal Aviation Administration aircraft. A major aircraft manufacturer
The TSO precluded the use of hook and
loop fasteners as a primary means of Underwater Locating Devices requested additional time to complete
securing an ELT in its mounting tray for (Acoustic) (Self-Powered) testing and analysis of the TSO–C121b
future ELT designs. TSO–C91a was device’s installation. They also
previously cancelled, and a revision was AGENCY: Federal Aviation requested additional time to update
not needed. Administration, FAA, DOT. their part numbers and drawings in
(3) Determined need for an ACTION: Notice to extend the revocation their various Type Certificated (TC)
Airworthiness Directive to correct ELTs date of Technical Standard Order (TSO) aircraft once the analysis is complete.
with hook and loop fasteners. The FAA C–121 and C–121a, Underwater Granting this additional time will
accomplished a Corrective Action Locating Devices (ULD) (Acoustic) (Self- prevent a disruption in aircraft
Review Board (CARB) to determine if Powered). production as the necessary
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
existing airworthiness approvals and documentation changes are updated to
existing Technical Standard Order SUMMARY: This Notice extends the reflect the current production of TSO–
authorizations required 14 CFR part 39 planned revocation date of Technical C121b devices.
Airworthiness Directive (AD) action. Standard Order (TSO) authorization for
The CARB determined an AD was not the production of Underwater Locating Conclusion
warranted. Devices (ULD) (Acoustic) (Self-Powered) Based on the recent award of TSO–
(4) Cease airworthiness approval of manufactured to TSO–C121 and TSO C– C121b authorizations, additional testing
ELTs with hook and loop fasteners. Not 121a specifications. This action is and analysis of lithium battery
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Notices 12699
installations and the lead time required TSO–C121 and TSO–C121a Issued in Washington, DC. on March 4,
to update required documentation, the authorizations to December 1, 2015. 2015.
FAA has delayed the revocation of Susan J. M. Cabler,
Assistant Manager, Design, Manufacturing
and Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–05501 Filed 3–9–15; 08:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:34:50
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:34:50
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice to extend the revocation date of Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-121 and C-121a, Underwater Locating Devices (ULD) (Acoustic) (Self-Powered). | |
| Contact | Mr. John Barry, AIR-130, Federal Aviation Administration, 470 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 4102, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone 202-267-1665, Fax 202-267-8589, email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 12698 |
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