Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42-500 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 14, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68076-68077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28828]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-26-AD; Amendment 39-11974; AD 2000-23-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42-500 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to all Aerospatiale Model ATR42-500 series airplanes, that 
requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for 
certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain 
structures. This amendment is prompted by issuance of a new revision of 
the ``Time Limits'' section of the ATR42-400/500 Maintenance Planning 
Document, which specifies new inspections and compliance times for 
inspection and replacement actions. The actions specified by this AD 
are intended to ensure that fatigue cracking of certain structural 
elements is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could 
adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes.

DATES: Effective December 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 
03, France. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to all Aerospatiale Model ATR42-500 
series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on August 29, 
2000 (65 FR 52369). That action proposed to require revising the 
Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and 
inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 8 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per 
airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of 
the required AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $480, or $60 per 
airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD 
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a 
significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2000-23-04  Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-11974. Docket 2000-NM-26-AD.

    Applicability: All Model ATR42-500 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability

[[Page 68077]]

provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or 
repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For 
airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the 
performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/
operator must request approval for an alternative method of 
compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, 
alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; 
and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request 
should include specific proposed actions to address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure continued structural integrity of these airplanes, 
accomplish the following:

Airworthiness Limitations Revision

    (a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness by incorporating the ``Time Limits'' section 
of the ATR42-400/500 Maintenance Planning Document, Revision 3, 
dated February 1999, into the Airworthiness Limitations Section.
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD: After the 
actions specified in paragraph (a) of this AD have been 
accomplished, no alternative inspections or inspection intervals may 
be approved for the structural elements specified in the documents 
listed in paragraph (a) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Effective Date

    (e) This amendment becomes effective on December 19, 2000.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 3, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-28828 Filed 11-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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