It seemed like it would be a routine Sunday trip back to Wichita for the crew of a corporate Cessna Citation CJ3. But when a handful of abnormal alerts popped up on the ECAM (electronic centralized aircraft monitor) display, the pilot in command went on alert as well. With a “PFD Compare Fail” noting a discrepancy between the two primary flight displays, he had a feeling it was serious.
Collins GPS & ADS-B Receivers Struck By Failure Modes
Key Takeaways:
- A software design error in Collins Aerospace's GPS-4000S-100 version software caused navigation system failures in business jets and commercial aircraft starting June 9, 2019.
- The issue stemmed from the software misinterpreting a "leap second" event during a routine GPS satellite almanac update by the U.S. government.
- This led to widespread "ADS-B Fail" and similar alerts, prompting an FAA advisory and a recommendation from Collins Aerospace to keep affected units powered down until a subsequent GPS update on June 16, 2019.
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