Airworthiness Directives; ATR Model ATR42-500 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6594-6595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2004]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0121; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-277-AD; 
Amendment 39-15363; AD 2008-03-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; ATR Model ATR42-500 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain ATR Model ATR42-500 series airplanes. This AD requires removing 
metallized polyethylene terephtalate (MPET) insulation blankets 
installed on the left and the right sides of the airplane over frame 24 
between stringers 5 and 14. This AD results from reports indicating 
that burnt spots were found on the MPET insulation blankets installed 
over frame 24. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure 
that MPET insulation blankets are removed over frame 24. Such MPET 
insulation blankets, if not removed, could propagate a small fire that 
is the result of an electrical arc and could lead to a much larger 
fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 20, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of February 20, 
2008.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 6, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact ATR, 316 
Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
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 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: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1137; 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 Community, notified us that 
an unsafe condition may exist on certain ATR Model ATR42-500 series 
airplanes. The EASA advises that there have been reports of two in-
service aircraft where burnt spots were found on the insulation 
blankets installed over frame 24. Investigations concluded that due to 
the presence of the bleed air duct, installation of the thermal-
acoustical insulation blankets having a metallized polyethylene 
terephtalate (MPET) made the covering (also known as Mylar \TM\) at 
this location unsafe. Such MPET insulation blankets, if not removed, 
could propagate a small fire that is the result of an electrical arc 
and could lead to a much larger fire. This action is intended to 
address the identified unsafe condition.

Relevant Service Information

    ATR has issued Service Bulletin ATR42-25-0155, dated April 10, 
2007. The service bulletin describes procedures for removing the MPET 
insulation blankets installed on the left and the right sides of the 
airplane over frame 24 between stringers 5 and 14. Accomplishing the 
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately 
address the unsafe condition. The EASA mandated the service information 
and issued emergency airworthiness directive 2007-0106-E, dated April 
18, 2007, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
the European Union.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    These airplanes are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. As described in FAA 
Order 8100.14A, ``Interim Procedures for Working with the European 
Community on Airworthiness Certification and Continued Airworthiness,'' 
dated August 12, 2005, the EASA has kept the FAA informed of the 
situation described above. We have examined the EASA's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are issuing this AD to ensure that MPET insulation 
blankets are removed over frame 24. Such MPET insulation blankets, if 
not removed, could propagate a small fire that is the result of an 
electrical arc and could lead to a much larger fire. This AD requires 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S. 
Register. All airplanes affected by this AD are currently operated by 
non-U.S. operators under foreign registry; therefore, they are not 
directly affected by this AD action. However, we consider this AD 
necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed if any 
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future.
    If an affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register 
in the future, the required action would take about 6 work hours per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these 
figures, the estimated cost of the AD would be $480 per airplane.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No airplane affected by this AD is currently on the U.S. Register.

[[Page 6595]]

Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is 
unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may be made effective 
in less than 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
``Docket No. FAA-2008-0121; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-277-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 because of 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.

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 the regulation:
    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); 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):

2008-03-13 ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional (Formerly 
Aerospatiale): Amendment 39-15363. Docket No. FAA-2008-0121; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-277-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective February 20, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to ATR Model ATR42-500 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; except for airplanes modified in 
accordance with ATR modification numbers 05117, 05322, and 05791, or 
ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-25-1034, dated January 24, 2002.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports indicating that burnt spots 
were found on the metallized polyethylene terephtalate (MPET) 
insulation blankets installed over frame 24. We are issuing this AD 
to ensure that MPET insulation blankets are removed over frame 24. 
Such MPET insulation blankets, if not removed, could propagate a 
small fire that is the result of an electrical arc and could lead to 
a much larger fire.

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.

Removal of Installation Blankets

    (f) Within 15 days after the effective date of this AD, remove 
the MPET insulation blankets installed on the left and the right 
sides of the airplane over frame 24 between stringers 5 and 14, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of ATR Service 
Bulletin ATR42-25-0155, dated April 10, 2007.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Related Information

    (h) EASA emergency airworthiness directive 2007-0106-E, dated 
April 18, 2007, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-25-0155, dated April 
10, 2007, 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 ATR, 316 
Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France, for a copy of 
this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington; or 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 January 24, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-2004 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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