Proposed Rule2026-19089
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
September 17, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of uncommanded nose landing gear (NLG) retraction. This proposed AD would require a leakage test of certain landing gear selector valves (LGSVs) and replacement, as applicable. This proposed AD would also limit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 179 (Thursday, September 17, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 179 (Thursday, September 17, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58826-58829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19089]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-8813; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00229-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 all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and
ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of
uncommanded nose landing gear (NLG) retraction. This proposed AD would
require a leakage test of certain landing gear selector valves (LGSVs)
and replacement, as applicable. This proposed AD would also limit the
installation of affected parts under certain conditions.
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 November 2,
2026.
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-2026-8813; 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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#0f4e4b7c4f6a6e7c6e216a7a7d607f6e216a7a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8fcecbfccfeaeefceea1eafafde0ffeea1eafa">[email protected]</span></a>. 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-2026-8813.
<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: Kimi Kim, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 781-
238-7693; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#291004687f7a0468607b046b686a66046a667a694f4848074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="546d7915020779151d06791615171b79171b07143235357a333b22">[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 using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-8813;
Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00229-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
[[Page 58827]]
under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of
this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Kimi Kim,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 781-238-7693; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8bb2a6caddd8a6cac2d9a6c9cac8c4a6c8c4d8cbedeaeaa5ece4fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="645d4925323749252d36492625272b49272b37240205054a030b12">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives which 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 2026-0046, dated March 6, 2026;
corrected March 9, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0046) (also referred to as the
MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain ATR-GIE Avions de
Transport R[eacute]gional Airplanes Model ATR42-200, -300, -320, -400
and -500 airplanes; and Model ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211, -212
and -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 occurrences of uncommanded NLG
retraction were reported. Preliminary investigation determined that
excessive internal leakage within the LGSV may result in an inadvertent
gear retraction under specific configurations. Further investigation is
still ongoing to determine the root cause of the reported events. This
condition, if not addressed, could lead to loss of landing gear and
airplane control during ground operations or immediately after
touchdown, possibly resulting in damage to the airplane or injury to
the occupants.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-8813.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2026-0046 specifies procedures for a one-time leakage test
of certain LGSVs and replacement with a serviceable part, as
applicable. EASA AD 2026-0046 also limits the installation of affected
parts under certain conditions and requires reporting the results of
the leakage test.
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
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority 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 2026-0046 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 2026-0046 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2026-0046 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 2026-0046 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 2026-
0046. Material required by EASA AD 2026-0046 for compliance will be
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2026-8813 after the
FAA final rule is published.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action.
The reporting required by this AD will enable better insight into the
cause of the leakage. If a final action to correct the unsafe condition
is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 32 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170........................... $0 $170 $5,440
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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
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Cost per
Labor cost Parts cost product
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3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255.... $11,900 $12,155
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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.
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
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-2026-
8813; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00229-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by November 2, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport
R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, -300, -320, and -500 airplanes; and
Model ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211, -212, and -212A airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2026-0046, dated March 6, 2026;
corrected March 9, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0046).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing
gear.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of occurrences of uncommanded
nose landing gear (NLG) retraction. Preliminary investigation
determined that excessive internal leakage within the landing gear
selector valve (LGSV) may result in an inadvertent gear retraction
under specific configurations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
internal leakage within the LGSV. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could lead to loss of landing gear and airplane control
during ground operations or immediately after touchdown, possibly
resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants.
(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 2026-0046.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2026-0046
(1) Where EASA AD 2026-0046 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA AD 2026-0046 defines a serviceable part as ``Any
LGSV eligible for installation in accordance with approved ATR
instructions, which is not an affected part'', this AD requires
replacing that text with ``Any LGSV eligible for installation, which
is not an affected part''.
(3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2026-0046 specifies ``any
leakage out of tolerance is detected, as defined in the AOM'', this
AD requires replacing that text with ``any leakage out of tolerance
is detected (i.e., fail criterion), as identified in Appendix 2 of
the AOM''.
(4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2026-0046.
(i) 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 (j) of this AD and email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d1c10121e1d3b3c3c733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4504080a06052324246b222a33">[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.
[[Page 58829]]
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Kimi Kim, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; phone: 781-238-7693; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#91a8bcd0c7c2bcd0d8c3bcd3d0d2debcd2dec2d1f7f0f0bff6fee7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="497064081f1a6408001b640b080a06640a061a092f2828672e263f">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 2026-0046,
dated March 6, 2026; corrected March 9, 2026.
(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#2160655261444052400f4454534e51400f4454"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="da9b9ea99abfbba9bbf4bfafa8b5aabbf4bfaf">[email protected]</span></a>. 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#ea8c98c48384999a8f899e838584aa848b988bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4e283c6027203d3e2b2d3a2721200e202f3c2f60292138">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on September 14, 2026.
Hollister B. Thorson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19089 Filed 9-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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