Proposed Rule2024-25369
Airworthiness Directives; ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a flight deck emergency escape hatch was difficult to open due to the hose ends being connected to the hatch with incorrect parts, which could affect drainage of the hatch. This proposed AD would require inspection of the flight deck emergency escape hatch drain hose for discrepancies and applicable corrective actions, and prohibit accomplishment of maintenance actions using the instructions of certain maintenance tasks, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 212 (Friday, November 1, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 87314-87317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25369]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2418; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00239-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; ATR--GIE Avions de Transport
R[eacute]gional Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42
and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a
flight deck emergency escape hatch was difficult to open due to the
hose ends being connected to the hatch with incorrect parts, which
could affect drainage of the hatch. This proposed AD would require
inspection of the flight deck emergency escape hatch drain hose for
discrepancies and applicable corrective actions, and prohibit
accomplishment of maintenance actions using the instructions of certain
maintenance tasks, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference
(IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December
16, 2024.
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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2418; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For EASA material identified in this proposed AD, contact
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e6a7a295a683879587c8839394899687c88393"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b2a2f182b0e0a180a450e1e19041b0a450e1e">[email protected]</span></a>; website easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2024-2418.
<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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone 206-231-3220; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ecbf848d849e8d81c2a88d82899f84818d828885ac8a8d8dc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="500338313822313d7e14313e3523383d313e3439103631317e373f26">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-2418;
Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00239-T'' at the beginning of your
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3220; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#401328212832212d6e04212e2533282d212e2429002621216e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ca99a2aba2b8aba7e48eaba4afb9a2a7aba4aea38aacababe4ada5bc">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives that
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public
docket for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2024-0090, dated April 16, 2024
(also referred to as
[[Page 87315]]
the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain ATR--GIE Avions
de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, ATR42-300, ATR42-320,
ATR42-400, ATR42-500, ATR72-101, ATR72-102, ATR72-201, ATR72-202,
ATR72-211, ATR72-212, and ATR72-212A airplanes. Model ATR42-400
airplanes are not certificated by the FAA and are not included on the
U.S. type certificate data sheet; this proposed AD therefore does not
include those airplanes in the applicability.
The MCAI states that following a report that a flight deck
emergency escape hatch was difficult to open, an ATR investigation
revealed hatch drain hose ends connected to the hatch with incorrect
parts (zip-tie and ty-rap) and installed collars with a too-small
diameter that would not permit the drain hose to slide inside. These
installation nonconformities could occur only during maintenance and
could affect the hatch drainage and possibly result in difficulties in
removing the hatch in case of an emergency evacuation. ATR has updated
the maintenance procedures to clarify the correct procedures.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address these installation
nonconformities, which could prevent flightcrew evacuation from the
airplane in case of an emergency, possibly resulting in personal
injury.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2418.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2024-0090 specifies procedures for inspecting for
discrepancies of the flight deck emergency escape hatch drain hose
(including checking for the presence of a fastening system on the drain
hoses at the level of the escape hatch drains and checking whether a
drain hose slides freely in the clamp (collar)). Discrepancies include
any zip-tie/ty-rap that is detected and any drain hose that does not
slide freely in the clamp. Corrective actions include removing the
fastening system and replacing the clamp. EASA AD 2024-0090 also
prohibits accomplishment of maintenance actions using the instructions
of Maintenance Procedure (MP) Tasks ATR-A-52-22-XX-00ZZZ-520Z-A and
ATR-A-52-22-XX-00ZZZ-720Z-A issued December 31, 2023, or earlier. 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.
FAA's Determination
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 is issuing this NPRM after determining that
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop
in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2024-0090 described previously, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2024-0090 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2024-0090 in its entirety through that incorporation, except
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of
this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading
of a particular section in EASA AD 2024-0090 does not mean that
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD
requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance times,''
compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section
titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2024-
0090. Material required by EASA AD 2024-0090 for compliance will be
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2024-2418 after the
FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 80 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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0.25 work-hour x $85 per hour = $21.25....................... $0 $21.25 $1,700
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacement 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 this
replacement:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Labor cost Parts cost product
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0.25 work-hour x $85 per hour = $21.25 Minimal $21.25
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The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected operators.
[[Page 87316]]
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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:
ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional; Docket No. FAA-2024-
2418; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00239-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by December 16, 2024.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the ATR--GIE Avions de Transport
R[eacute]gional airplanes, certificated in any category, specified
in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD and identified in European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0090, dated April 16,
2024 (EASA AD 2024-0090).
(1) Model ATR42-200, -300, -320, and -500 airplanes.
(2) Model ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211, -212, and -212A
airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that a flight deck emergency
escape hatch was difficult to open due to the hose ends being
connected to the hatch with incorrect parts or and installed collars
with a too-small diameter that would not permit the drain hose to
slide inside. The FAA is issuing this AD to address such
installation nonconformities, which could affect drainage of the
hatch. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could prevent
flightcrew evacuation in case of an emergency, possibly resulting in
personal injury.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, EASA AD 2024-0090.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0090
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0090 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2024-0090.
(3) Where EASA AD 2024-0090 states ``any discrepancy, as defined
in the AOM, is detected'' for this AD replace that text with ``any
fastening system (e.g., zip-tie/ty-rap) is detected or any drain
hose does not slide freely in the clamp (collar).''
(i) No Reporting
Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0090 specifies
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not
include that requirement.
(j) Additional AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(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 (k) of this AD and email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#31707c7e72715750501f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="66272b29252600070748010910">[email protected]</span></a>. 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.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3220; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="582b3039302a3935763c39363d2b303539363c31183e3939763f372e">[email protected]</a>.
(l) 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 2024-0090,
dated April 16, 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3170754271545042501f5444435e41501f5444"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="edaca99ead888c9e8cc388989f829d8cc38898">[email protected]</span></a>; 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 <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ed8b9fc384839e9d888e99848283ad838c9f8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eb8d99c58285989b8e889f828485ab858a998ac58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 87317]]
Issued on October 28, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25369 Filed 10-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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