Airworthiness Directives; ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14019-14022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05297]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2416; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00491-T; 
Amendment 39-22999; AD 2025-06-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 
and ATR72-212A airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of the 
possible use of improper material during the manufacturing of vertical 
stabilizer to horizontal stabilizer junction fittings. This AD requires 
inspections of affected parts, applicable repairs, and eventual 
replacement of certain affected parts, as specified in a European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 2, 2025.

[[Page 14020]]

    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 2, 2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2416; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 
000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may find 
this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2416

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
telephone 206-231-3220; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain ATR--GIE Avions 
de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 1, 2024 (89 FR 
87311). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2024-0171, dated August 27, 2024, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union (EASA AD 2024-0171) (also referred to as the MCAI). 
The MCAI states that a report was received of the possible use of 
improper material during the manufacturing of vertical stabilizer to 
horizontal stabilizer junction fittings. Subsequent review identified 
the population of affected parts and the airplanes equipped with those 
affected parts. Vertical stabilizer to horizontal stabilizer junction 
fittings manufactured with improper material, if not addressed, could 
reduce the structural integrity of the airplane.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspections of affected 
parts, applicable repairs, and eventual replacement of certain affected 
parts, as specified in EASA AD 2024-0171. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2416.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined 
that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on this product. 
Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in 
the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any 
operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2024-0171 specifies procedures for a special detailed 
inspection (SDI) (conductivity measurement, hardness test, and X-ray 
fluorescence (XRF) inspection) to determine the material tolerance of 
affected vertical to horizontal stabilizer junction fittings installed 
on group 1 or 2 airplanes; repair of parts not within the tolerances of 
material AL7075-T73 (except those within the tolerances of material 
AL7050-T7452); repetitive detailed visual inspections for any damage 
(including corrosion and dents) of each affected part that is within 
the tolerances of material AL7050-T7452 or is installed on a group 3 
airplane; repair of damaged parts; and eventual replacement of any 
affected part that is within the tolerances of material AL7050-T7452 or 
installed on a group 3 airplane. EASA AD 2024-0171 also specifies 
reporting the inspection results of the SDI to ATR. This material 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 36 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Labor cost               Parts cost      Cost per product             Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 26 work-hours x $85 per hour            $0   Up to $2,210..........  Up to $79,560.
 = $2,210.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any 
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:

                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Labor cost                Parts cost     Cost per product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 523 work-hours x $85 per hour =       $6,340              $50,795
 $44,455.............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 14021]]

    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this AD.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of 
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact 
on affected operators.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take 
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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:

2025-06-11 ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional: Amendment 
39-22999; Docket No. FAA-2024-2416; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-
00491-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 2, 2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional 
Model ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA) AD 2024-0171, dated August 27, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0171).

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of the possible use of improper 
material during the manufacturing of vertical stabilizer to 
horizontal stabilizer junction fittings. The FAA is issuing this AD 
to address the potential usage of improper material during the 
manufacturing of vertical stabilizer to horizontal stabilizer 
junction fittings. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, EASA AD 2024-0171.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0171

    (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0171 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0171 specifies to 
``accomplish a detailed visual inspection (DVI) of each affected 
part in accordance with the instructions of ATR Maintenance 
Procedure (MP) A-55-36-XX-02ZZZ-281Z-A'' for this AD replace that 
text with ``accomplish a detailed visual inspection (DVI) for damage 
of each affected part in accordance with the instructions of ATR 
Maintenance Procedure (MP) A-55-36-XX-02ZZZ-281Z-A, and before 
further flight repair any damage using a method approved by the 
Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or 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.''
    (3) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2024-0171 specifies to 
``accomplish a DVI of the affected part in accordance with the 
instructions of ATR MP A-55-36-XX-02ZZZ-281Z-A'' for this AD replace 
that text with ``accomplish a DVI for damage of the affected part in 
accordance with the instructions of ATR MP A-55-36-XX-02ZZZ-281Z-A, 
and before further flight repair any damage using a method approved 
by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or 
ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional's EASA DOA. If approved 
by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized 
signature.''
    (4) Paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2024-0171 specifies to report 
inspection results to ATR within a certain compliance time. For this 
AD, report inspection results at the applicable time specified in 
paragraph (h)(4)(i) or (ii) of this AD.
    (i) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before the effective date of 
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0171.

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:

[[Page 14022]]

    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International 
Validation Branch, FAA; or 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) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 206-231-3220; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0171, 
dated August 27, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]; website easa.europa.eu. You may 
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on March 21, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-05297 Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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