Airworthiness Directives; ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55755-55757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25004]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1027; Product Identifier 2017-NM-092-AD; Amendment 
39-19105; AD 2017-24-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; ATR--GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes 
and Model ATR72-212A airplanes. This AD requires an inspection for 
routing attachments of electrical harness bundles and for wire damage, 
and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of 
electrical harness bundle chafing with a window blinding panel in the 
fuselage due to missing routing attachments. We are issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 11, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of December 11, 
2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, 1, All[eacute]e Pierre 
Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; 
fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email aircraft.com">continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com. You may view this referenced service information at the 
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-
227-1221. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1027.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1027; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office 
(telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 
Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1112; fax 
425-227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2017-0118, dated July 7, 2017 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain ATR--GIE 
Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes and Model 
ATR72-212A airplanes. The MCAI states:

    An event was reported of several spurious alarms on a recently 
delivered ATR 72 aeroplane. During troubleshooting, damage was 
evidenced on the electrical harness bundle (Route 1M) due to chafing 
with a window blinding panel located on the left hand of the 
fuselage, zone 231. A bracket, necessary to maintain the harness 
bundle close to the structure of the fuselage and avoid chafing, was 
missing.
    Same bracket has also been found missing on the other side of 
the fuselage (symmetrical location, Right Hand side, zone 232, route 
2M) with no damage on the harness bundle.
    A quality investigation revealed another aeroplane on the 
production line, where same brackets were not installed.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to wire 
failure (cut or shorted) and, in case of several failures in

[[Page 55756]]

combination, the loss of systems, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, ATR published 
Service Bulletin (SB) ATR 42-92-0033 and SB ATR 72-92-1044 to 
provide instructions to verify the installation of the brackets and 
to inspect the wire bundles [for damage e.g., but not limited to, 
chafing and electrical shorting].
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [detailed] inspection of the routing attachments [for missing 
attachments and wire damage] and, depending on findings, 
installation of the brackets and, as necessary, wire repair.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1027.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    ATR has issued Service Bulletin ATR42-92-0033, dated May 3, 2017, 
for Model ATR42 airplanes; and Service Bulletin ATR72-92-1044, dated 
May 3, 2017, for Model ATR72 airplanes. This service information 
describes procedures for doing an inspection of routing attachments of 
electrical harness bundles and for wire damage, and corrective actions 
if necessary. This service information is reasonably available because 
the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type designs.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    There are currently no domestic operators of this product. 
Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are unnecessary. In addition, for the reason(s) stated 
above, we find that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-1027; Product 
Identifier 2017-NM-092-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD based on 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. If an 
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future, we provide the following cost estimates to comply with this AD. 
We estimate that it will take about 3 work-hours per product to comply 
with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 
per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $0 per product. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$0, or $255 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will 
take about 1 work-hour and require parts costing $6, for a cost of $91 
per product. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that 
might need these actions.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes to 
the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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 the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2017-24-01 ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional: Amendment 
39-19105; Docket No. FAA-2017-1027; Product Identifier 2017-NM-092-
AD.

[[Page 55757]]

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 11, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the ATR--GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) 
of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Model ATR42-500 airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 1014, 1016 
through 1019 inclusive, and 1201 through 1212 inclusive.
    (2) Model ATR72-212A airplanes, S/Ns 1165 through 1200 
inclusive, 1220 through 1340 inclusive, 1342 through 1353 inclusive, 
1355 through 1366 inclusive, 1368 through 1376 inclusive, 1378 
through 1380 inclusive, 1382, 1385, and 1388.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 92, Electrical 
System Installation.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of electrical harness bundle 
chafing with a window blinding panel in the fuselage. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct missing routing attachments of 
fuselage electrical harness bundles, which could result in wire 
failure (cut or shorted) and, in case of several failures in 
combination, the loss of systems, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection

    Within 6 months or 500 flight hours after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first: Do a detailed inspection for 
missing brackets and damage (including but not limited to chafing 
and electrical shorting) to wire bundles of the Route 1M and Route 
2M electrical harness, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-92-0033, dated May 3, 
2017 (for Model ATR42-500 airplanes); or ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-
92-1044, dated May 3, 2017 (for Model ATR72-212A airplanes); as 
applicable.

(h) Corrective Action

    If the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD reveals 
that any bracket is missing or any wire is damaged: Before further 
flight, do applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-92-0033, 
dated May 3, 2017 (for Model ATR42-500 airplanes); or ATR Service 
Bulletin ATR72-92-1044, dated May 3, 2017 (for Model ATR72-212A 
airplanes); as applicable. Where ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-92-0033, 
dated May 3, 2017; or ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-92-1044, dated May 
3, 2017; specifies to contact ATR--GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional for appropriate action: Before further flight, 
accomplish corrective actions in accordance with the procedures 
specified in paragraph (i)(2) of this AD.

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Branch, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. 
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA); or ATR--GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 
approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized 
signature.

(j) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2017-0118, dated July 7, 2017, for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2017-1027.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Shahram 
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport 
Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-92-0033, dated May 3, 2017.
    (ii) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-92-1044, dated May 3, 2017.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact ATR--
GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, 1, All[eacute]e Pierre 
Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; 
fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email aircraft.com">continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport 
Standards Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 8, 2017.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25004 Filed 11-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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