Systems Installed On Several Fixed And Rotary Wing Aircraft

The FAA has issued an Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) to advise owners and operators of incorrect information transmitted by some models of the Honeywell NZ-2000 Primus Epic Flight Management System (FMS). The bulletin applies to software having part number (P/N) VAR9XX, VAR10XX, or VAR11XX installed on Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Raytheon Aircraft Company) Model 4000 airplanes, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-IV, GIV-X, and GV-SP airplanes, Agusta AW-139 helicopters, and Cessna Aircraft Company Model 680 airplanes.

During an RNAV approach an airplane programmed with NZ-2000 FMS software (version 5.2), flew the WATTS THREE ARRIVAL (RNAV) Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR). A different runway was selected in the FMS during the STAR, and resulted in the FMS navigating the airplane toward the initial STAR waypoint instead of the next sequential STAR waypoint. As a result of this incident, Honeywell International Inc. issued Service Information Letter, D200909000044, dated October 15, 2009, to provide operators with guidelines for flight plan modifications made on the ARRIVAL page, including a destination runway change. The SAIB addresses the Primus Epic FMS because its software was a derivative of the NZ-2000 FMS software. For now, the FAA says the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

The FAA recommends that all owners and operators of Model 4000 airplanes, Model G-IV, GIV-X, and GV-SP airplanes, Agusta AW-139 helicopters, and Model 680 airplanes with NZ-2000 Primus Epic Flight Management System software ensure their flight crews are familiar with the procedures outlined in Honeywell Service Information Letter, D200909000044, dated October 15, 2009.

FMI: www.faa.gov