Automatic Self-Tests May Not Be Performed As Intended

The FAA has released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin warning of a potential issue with Esterline Belgium (formerly BARCO NV) DU-875, DU-885, and DU-885AF displays. According to the SAIB, automatic self-tests of the displays are not being performed as intended. These displays are often installed as part of a Honeywell Primus Elite flight deck upgrade.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) notified the FAA of this issue and has issued Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) 2017-09. DU-875, DU-885, and DU-885AF displays perform their intended function through a number of automatic self-tests. The manufacturer has determined that these displays do not perform some of these self-tests as frequently as intended or do not report some failures as intended. This may result in the displays not meeting its specification. It could also result in the installation not meeting the safety objectives of the airplane Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA) as initially determined at the time of the installation approval. The manufacturer is preparing a software update to recover the intended performance of the displays. The ETSO / TSO LODA Approval Holder of the affected displays is Esterline Belgium. The displays are usually installed by an STC holder, but may be installed directly by the TC holder.

The FAA recommends that all affected TC and STC holders re-evaluate the compliance of DU-875, DU-885, and DU-885AF displays with the FHA objectives, including the ‘no single failure’ criterion and to report any non-compliance to the appropriate FAA ACO Branch to determine the need for further action. Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the OMB has approved the information collection contained in this SAIB, and assigned OMB Control Number 2120-073 l.

The FAA also recommends that operators of airplanes fitted with DU-875 or DU-885 displays, as listed in Appendix 1 of this SAIB, accomplish the following repetitive actions in accordance with the instructions of section 5 of Esterline Service Bulletin Avionics (SBAv) SBAv-0058 Issue 03, dated 31 May 2017 (or later Issue), until the equipment is upgraded with a software release recovering the originally intended performance of the display:

• For displays in Multi-Function Display/Navigation Display (MFD/ND) position, check for the presence of latent failure using the dedicated tool.
• For displays in Primary Flight Display/Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System Display (PFD/EICAS) positions, temporarily move the display to an MFD/ND position and check for the presence of latent failure using the dedicated tool.

Displays exhibiting latent failures should be reported to the equipment manufacturer and returned for repair through the known channels.

The FAA also recommends that operators of airplanes fitted with DU-885AF displays, as listed in Appendix 1 of this SAIB, accomplish the instructions of section 5 of Esterline SBAv-0060 Issue 01, dated 31 May 2017 (or later Issue) until the equipment is upgraded with a software release recovering the originally intended performance of the display.

The FAA also recommends that operators of airplanes fitted with DU-875, DU-885, or DU-885AF displays, as listed in Appendix 1 of this SAIB, upgrade the displays with a software release recovering the originally intended performance of the display in accordance with Esterline instructions when available.

(Source: FAA)

FMI: SAIB with citations