Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18205-18207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3382]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23816; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-247-AD; 
Amendment 39-14553; AD 2006-07-26]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Aerospatiale Model ATR42 airplanes. This AD requires one-time 
inspections to detect discrepancies (e.g., cracking, loose/sheared 
fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet of the outer wing 
boxes, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a report of 
cracking on the upper skin and ribs of the outer wing box on an in-
service airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct these 
discrepancies, which could result in reduced structural integrity of 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 16, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 16, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 
03, France, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Aerospatiale Model 
ATR42 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
February 8, 2006 (71 FR 6413). That NPRM proposed to require one-time 
inspections to detect discrepancies (e.g., cracking, loose/sheared 
fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet of the outer wing 
boxes, and repair if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Clarification of Reporting

    In the preamble of the NPRM we stated that although ``the French 
airworthiness directive and the service bulletin specify to submit 
certain information to the manufacturer, this proposed AD does not 
include that requirement.'' However, we did not include this exception 
in the body of the NPRM. We have added paragraph (h) to clarify that 
reporting is not required.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the 
change described previously. We have determined that this change will 
neither

[[Page 18206]]

increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 14 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
actions will take about 6 work hours per airplane if the internal 
borescopic inspection method is chosen, and about 44 work hours per 
airplane if the internal detailed inspection method (with the leading 
edge removed) is chosen. Both estimates include the time necessary for 
the external detailed inspection. The average labor rate is $65 per 
work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for 
U.S. operators is between $5,460 and $40,040, or either $390 or $2,860 
per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-07-26 Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-14553. Docket No. FAA-2006-
23816; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-247-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective May 16, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Aerospatiale Model ATR42-200, -300, -
320, and -500 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of cracking on the upper skin 
and ribs of the outer wing box on an in-service airplane. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct discrepancies (e.g., cracking, 
loose/sheared fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet 
of the outer wing boxes, which could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

External Inspection and Repair

    (f) Before the accumulation of 4,000 total flight cycles, or 
within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is 
later: Do an external detailed inspection for discrepancies of the 
upper skin panels of the outer wing box on the left and right wing, 
from rib 24 to rib 29. Do the inspection in accordance with Part A 
of the Accomplishment Instructions of Avions de Transport Regional 
Service Bulletin ATR42-57-0064, dated December 16, 2004.
    (1) If any discrepancy is found: Before further flight, do the 
actions in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (f)(1)(ii) of this AD.
    (i) Repair using a method approved by either the Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; 
or the Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) 
(or its delegated agent).
    (ii) Do the internal inspection in accordance with paragraph (g) 
of this AD.
    (2) If no discrepancy is found: Within 4 months after doing the 
external detailed inspection, do the internal inspection in 
accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Internal Inspection and Repair

    (g) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) or 
(f)(2) of this AD: Inspect for discrepancies of the rib feet from 
rib 24 to rib 29 using one of the inspection methods specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD. Do the inspection in 
accordance with Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions of Avions 
de Transport Regional Service Bulletin ATR42-57-0064, dated December 
16, 2004. If any discrepancy is found during any inspection required 
by this paragraph: Before further flight, repair using a method 
approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 
or the DGAC (or its delegated agent).
    (1) A borescopic inspection through access doors.
    (2) A detailed inspection after removing the leading edge of the 
wing.

No Reporting

    (h) Although Avions de Transport Regional Service Bulletin 
ATR42-57-0064, dated December 16, 2004, specifies to submit certain 
information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that 
requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance 
with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (j) French airworthiness directive F-2004-191, dated December 
22, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Avions de Transport Regional Service Bulletin 
ATR42-57-0064,

[[Page 18207]]

dated December 16, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 
03, France, for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 31, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-3382 Filed 4-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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