AD/RAD/48 - Collins TCAS II and TCAS 94 Systems (Cth)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Radio Communication and Navigation Equipment

AD/RAD/48 Collins TCAS II and TCAS 94 Systems 8/92 Applicability: All Collins Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance TCAS II and TCAS 94 systems. Requirement: 1. Deactivate and placard the TCAS equipment as follows: 1. Pull and band the circuit breaker that applies electrical power to the TCAS system,

b. Fabricate a placard with the following words in 4mm high letters `TCAS II Inoperative' or 'TCAS 94 Inoperative' as appropriate, and

c. Install this placard adjacent to the TCAS control unit within the pilot's clear view.

2. Modify the TCAS equipment in accordance with either of the following Collins Service Bulletins:

1. SB TTR-920-34-C Revision 1 dated 20 May 1991, or

b. SB TTR-920-34-07 Revision 1 dated 20 May 1991.

Note: FAA AD 91-10-01 Amendment 39-8002 refers.

Compliance: 1. Prior to further flight after 23 August 1992 or prior to flight in United States airspace for Requirement 1.

2. Prior to reactivating the TCAS equipment.

Note: Compliance with Requirement 2 is considered terminating action for this Directive.

Background: The FAA has received several reports of problems on aircraft equipped with Collins TCAS II or TCAS 94 systems. The crew members of the involved aircraft report that targets suddenly appear or are moving at a very high rate of speed toward their aircraft, which causes a 'Traffic Advisory (TA)' or 'Resolution Advisory (RA)'. The sudden display of these advisories often causes the crew to rapidly change altitude, which could result in an undesirable disruption of the Air Traffic Control System. Compliance with this Directive, prevents the sudden appearance of spurious TCAS advisories.