Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 63007 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1206; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00068–T; Amendment 

39–22527; AD 2023–17–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; ATR—GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

ATR—GIE Avions de Transport 

Re ́gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 

determination that some batches of nose 

landing gear (NLG) drag brace panels 

(DBP) having certain part numbers were 

affected by a quality deficiency that was 

not detected in production. This AD 

requires a measurement of the affected 

part and, depending on findings, 

accomplishment of applicable corrective 

actions, as specified in a European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD, which is incorporated by reference. 

This AD also prohibits the installation 

of affected parts. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 19, 

2023. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of October 19, 2023. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–1206; 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: 

• For EASA material incorporated by 

reference in this AD, contact EASA, 

Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

website easa.europa.eu. You may find 

this material on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

• For Safran Landing Systems SAS 

service information incorporated by 

reference in this AD, contact Safran 

Landing Systems SAS, Inovel Parc 

Sud—7, rue Ge ́ne ́ral Vale ́rie Andre ́, 

78140 VELIZY–VILLACOUBLAY— 

FRANCE; telephone +33 (0) 1 46 29 81 

00, website safran-landing-systems.com. 

• 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 in the AD docket at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2023–1206. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 

206–231–3220; email: 

shahram.daneshmandi@faa.gov. 

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 all ATR—GIE Avions de 

Transport Re ́gional Model ATR 42–200, 

ATR 42–300, ATR 42–320, ATR 42–400, 

ATR 42–500, ATR 72–101, ATR 72–102, 

ATR 72–201, ATR 72–202, ATR 72–211, 

ATR 72–212, and ATR 72–212A 

airplanes. Model ATR 42–400 airplanes 

are not certificated by the FAA and are 

not included on the U.S. type certificate 

data sheet; this AD therefore does not 

include those airplanes in the 

applicability. The NPRM published in 

the Federal Register on June 8, 2023 (88 

FR 37481). The NPRM was prompted by 

AD 2023–0010, dated January 17, 2023, 

issued by EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union (EASA AD 2023–0010) 

(also referred to as the MCAI). The 

MCAI states that it has been determined 

that some batches of NLG DBP having 

part number (P/N) D63757 and P/N 

D69085 were affected by a quality 

deficiency that was not detected in 

production. Consequently, this issue 

could lead to NLG DBP dissymmetry at 

the lower area, which might affect the 

structural strength of the NLG DBP. This 

condition, if not addressed, could lead 

to NLG DBP structural fatigue failure 

and subsequent collapse of the NLG, 

possibly resulting in damage to the 

airplane and injury to occupants. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require a measurement of the affected 

part and, depending on findings, 

accomplishment of applicable corrective 

actions, as specified in EASA AD 2023– 

0010. The NPRM also proposed to 

prohibit the installation of affected 

parts. 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–2023–1206. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received a comment from 

Air Line Pilots Association, 

International, who supported the NPRM 

without change. 

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, considered 

the comment received, 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. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2023–0010 specifies 

procedures for measuring the affected 

part and, depending on findings, 

accomplishing applicable corrective 

actions. Corrective actions could 

include obtaining and carrying out 

repair instructions, or replacing the 

affected part with a serviceable part. 

EASA AD 2033–0010 also specifies 

procedures for reporting measurement 

findings to ATR—GIE and prohibits the 

installation of affected parts. 

Safran Landing Systems SAS Service 

Bulletin 631–32–286, dated October 28, 

2022, provides the list of affected parts 

and specifies measurement procedures. 

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 73 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

FAA estimates the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 


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63008 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 .......................................................................................... $0 $170 $12,410 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data on which to base the cost estimates 

for the on-condition actions specified in 

this AD. 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2023–17–01 ATR—GIE Avions de 

Transport Re ́gional: Amendment 39– 

22527; Docket No. FAA–2023–1206; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2023–00068–T. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 19, 2023. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all ATR—GIE Avions 

de Transport Re ́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. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 32, Landing gear. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a determination 

that some batches of nose landing gear (NLG) 

drag brace panels (DBP) having part number 

(P/N) D63757 and P/N D69085 were affected 

by a quality deficiency that was not detected 

in production. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the possibility of a resulting NLG 

DBP dissymmetry at the lower area, which 

might affect the structural strength of the 

NLG DBP. This condition, if not addressed, 

could lead to NLG DBP structural fatigue 

failure and subsequent collapse of the NLG, 

possibly resulting in damage to the airplane 

and injury to 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, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023–0010, dated 

January 17, 2023 (EASA AD 2023–0010). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023–0010 

(1) Where EASA AD 2023–0010 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 2023–0010. 

(3) Where EASA AD 2023–0010 defines 

‘‘the SB,’’ for this AD, operators must use 

Safran Landing Systems SAS Service Bulletin 

631–32–286, dated October 28, 2022. 

(4) Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023–0010 

specifies to report measurement results to 

Safran Landing Systems SAS 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, but do not exceed the compliance time 

specified in Table 1 of EASA AD 2023–0010. 

(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. 

(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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 63009 

request to your principal inspector or 

responsible Flight Standards Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Validation Branch, send 

it to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be 

emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

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 Re ́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: shahram.daneshmandi@

faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2023–0010, dated January 17, 

2023. 

(ii) Safran Landing Systems SAS Service 

Bulletin 631–32–286, dated October 28, 2022. 

(3) For EASA AD 2023–0010, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD 

on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) For Safran Landing Systems SAS 

service information, contact Safran Landing 

Systems SAS, Inovel Parc Sud—7, rue 

Ge ́ne ́ral Vale ́rie Andre ́, 78140 VELIZY– 

VILLACOUBLAY—FRANCE; telephone +33 

(0) 1 46 29 81 00, website safran-landingsystems.com. 

(5) 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. 

(6) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email 

fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on September 7, 2023. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19900 Filed 9–13–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1215; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00196–T; Amendment 

39–22528; AD 2023–17–02] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, 

Support and Services (Formerly 

Known as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Saab AB, Support and Services Model 

340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

reports of a high number of events 

related to stall warnings upon landing, 

following introduction of the ice speed 

function within the stall warning 

system. This AD requires modification 

of the stall warning/identification 

system, 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 October 19, 

2023. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 19, 2023. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–1215; 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: 

• For EASA material incorporated by 

reference in this AD, contact EASA, 

Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

website easa.europa.eu. You may find 

this material on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

• You may view this service 

information 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 in 

the AD docket at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2023–1215. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 206–231–3220; email 

Shahram.Daneshmandi@faa.gov. 

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 SAAB/SF340A and 

SAAB 340B airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

June 20, 2023 (88 FR 39794). The NPRM 

was prompted by AD 2022–0216R1, 

dated February 1, 2023; corrected 

February 2, 2023, issued by EASA, 

which is the Technical Agent for the 

Member States of the European Union 

(EASA AD 2022–0216R1) (also referred 

to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that 

following the introduction of the ice 

speed function within the SAAB 340 

stall warning system, a high number of 

events have been reported related to 

stall warnings upon landing. 

Subsequent investigation determined 

that the margin to stall warning is lower 

when ice speed is ON than with ice 

speed OFF. This condition, if not 

corrected, could lead to inappropriate 

stall warnings during the landing phase 

and result in increased pilot workload 

during a critical phase of flight. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require accomplishing the actions 

specified in EASA AD 2022–0216R1, 

except for any differences identified as 

exceptions in the regulatory text of this 

AD. 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–2023–1215. 


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