EASA AD No.

: 2015-0093

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2015-0093

Date: 27 May 2015

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation
(EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of the European
third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with EU 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the
continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an
aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency
[EU 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name: Type/Model designation(s):

NORTHROP GRUMMAN LITEF GmbH LCR-100 Attitude Heading Reference System

ETSO Authorisation: EASA.21O.855 Rev. A

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

Navigation – Attitude Heading Reference System – Modification /

ATA 34
Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH, formerly LITEF GmbH

Applicability: Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH LCR-100 Attitude Heading Reference System
(AHRS), Part Number (P/N) 145130-2000, P/N 145130-2001, P/N 145130-7000,
P/N 145130-7001 and P/N 145130-7100.
These AHRS units are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Pilatus PC-12,
Learjet 31A, Cessna 560XL, RUAG (Dornier) 228 series, and PZL Mielec M28
(Sky Truck) aeroplanes; and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. 412EP, Bell Helicopter
Textron Canada 407, and Sikorsky S-76C helicopters.

Reason: During laboratory tests of LCR-100 AHRS units, it was discovered that when BITE
(built-in test) detects failures causing the system to switch into Reset Hold Mode
(Silent Mode), system reset was not correctly generated. This reset failure
induces frozen analogue output data (Attitude and Heading) without detection or
warning to the pilot, while the digital A429 output data is indicated invalid and
remains invalid.
For aircraft installations using LCR-100 analogue data, there may be misleading
analogue output provided by the equipment to the aircraft (pilot and autopilot).
The A429 digital Attitude and Heading data is indicated invalid, and is therefore
unavailable, but not misleading to the aircraft. Unless a system reset is performed
by a switch OFF / switch ON sequence, the unit remains in this failure mode.
However, depending on aircraft installation, if there is no automatic comparison of
analogue output (e.g. with another equipment output) to detect unit failure, this
condition, if not corrected, could lead to undetected attitude and heading errors,
possibly resulting in loss of control of the aircraft.

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To address this potential unsafe condition, Northrop Grumman LITEF issued

Service Bulletin (SB) 145130-0017-845 (now at issue C), providing instructions for
the affected units to be removed and replaced with modified units.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires removal from service of the
affected LCR-100 AHRS units and replacement with modified (new P/N) units.
In addition, as an interim measure pending AHRS unit replacement, for aircraft
installations using the analogue output without the means to automatically detect
the misleading data, this AD requires a temporary amendment of the applicable
Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).

Effective Date: 10 June 2015

Required Action(s) Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

and Compliance
(1) For aircraft installations using the LCR-100 analogue output (see Note 1)
Time(s):
without automatic detection of the frozen output data of the AHRS, within 30
days after the effective date of this AD, amend the AFM of the aircraft by
inserting a Temporary Revision (TR) to the AFM (Supplement), provided by
the design approval (TC) holder of the affected aircraft, or the design change
approval (STC) holder of the modification through which the LCR-100 unit
was installed, as applicable. The AFM(S) TR must include the following:
- information explaining the safety issue,
- instructions for the pilot to closely monitor the Attitude and Heading
information to detect frozen data,
- instructions for the pilot to accomplish after detection (considering
possible reset, diversion, etc.), as applicable to the aircraft installation,
and
- limitations or procedures, as deemed necessary to ensure safe flight.
Note 1: Aircraft installations using the LCR-100 analogue output only for non-
safety critical functions are not affected by the requirements of paragraph (1) of
this AD.

(2) Within the compliance time specified in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable,
modify the aircraft by replacing each AHRS unit having a P/N specified as
‘old’ in Table 2 of this AD with a modified unit, having a P/N specified as ‘new’
in Table 2 of this AD. This modification must be accomplished in accordance
with approved aeroplane modification instructions provided by the TC holder
of the affected aircraft, or the STC holder of the modification through which
the LCR-100 unit was installed.
Northrop Grumman LITEF SB 145130-0017-845 contains the necessary
instructions how to have a unit modified.

Table 1 – Modification

Affected aircraft installations Compliance Time

Using the LCR-100 analogue output

without automatic detection of the 6 months
frozen output data of the AHRS

All other installations, including those

24 months
defined in Note 1 of this AD

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 EASA AD No.: 2015-0093

Table 2 – LCR-100 AHRS P/N old and new

P/N old P/N new

145130-2000 145130-2010
145130-2001 145130-2011
145130-7000 145130-7010
145130-7001 145130-7011
145130-7100 145130-7110

(3) Concurrent with modification of an aircraft as required by paragraph (2) of

this AD, the AFM change, if required by paragraph (1) of this AD (see Note 1
of this AD), can be removed from that aircraft.

(4) Do not install on any aircraft a LCR-100 AHRS unit, having a P/N specified as
‘old’ in Table 1 of this AD, as required by paragraph (4.1) or (4.2) of this AD,
as applicable.
(4.1) For an aircraft with LCR-100 AHRS installed, having a P/N specified as
‘old’ in Table 1 of this AD: After modification as required by paragraph
(2) of this AD.
(4.2) For an aircraft with LCR-100 AHRS installed, having a P/N listed as
‘new’ in Table 1 of this AD, or with a AHRS installed with a P/N not
listed in Table 1 of this AD: From the effective date of this AD.

Ref. Publications: Northrop Grumman LITEF SB 145130-0017-845, issue C, dated 14 January

2015, or issue D, dated 1 April 2015, which can be downloaded from the NG
LITEF GmbH website.
The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for compliance
with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative

Methods of Compliance for this AD.
2. This AD was posted on 04 March 2015 as PAD 15-020 for consultation until
01 April 2015. The Comment Response Document can be found at
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/.
3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information
Section, Certification Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.
4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this
AD, please contact:
Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH, Customer Service Commercial Avionics,
Loerracher Str. 18, 79115 Freiburg, Germany
Telephone +49 (761) 4901-142 , Fax +49 (761) 4901-773
Email: ahrs.support@ng-litef.de.

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