EASA AD No.: 2008-0135 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2008-0135 

Date: 16 July 2008 

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with 

Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and 

of the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of 

that Regulation. 

This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may 

operate an aircraft to which an Airworthiness Directive applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that Airworthiness 

Directive unless otherwise specified by the Agency [EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State 

of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

Aviointeriors S.p.A. 

Type/Model designation(s) : 

Passengers Seats 12M( )( )-( )( )( )( )( )( ) 

ETSO Approval: EASA 21O.001 

Foreign AD: Not applicable 

Supersedure: EASA AD 2006-0350 issued on 22 November 2006. 

ATA 25 Equipment & Furnishings – Passenger Seat Backrest -

Replacement 

Manufacturer(s): Aviointeriors S.p.A. 

Applicability: Passenger Seats 12M( )( )-( )( )( )( )( )( ), all part numbers (P/N) equipped 

with backrest P/N 313033000000 or 313033100000, as listed in Section 1.A 

of Aviointeriors Service Bulletin (SB) 12M/F68-06. 

The affected seats are known to be installed on, but not limited to, the 

following aircraft: 

- ATR 42 series; 

- ATR 72 series. 

Reason: Failures of the recline actuator metal fitting have been reported on seat 

backrests of in-service aircraft. EASA AD 2006-0350, which is superseded by 

this AD, was issued to initially mandate a one-time inspection of the 

applicable backrests, replace all fittings that have tool marks and re-identify 

the backrest seat P/N. Since the issuance of the AD, cycle testing performed 

by Aviointeriors identified a life limitation also for backrests that do not have 

tool marks. 

Consequently the present AD mandates the replacement of those backrests 

before reaching the threshold specified in the compliance paragraph of this 

AD. 

Actions required by this AD are intended to prevent further failures of the seat 

backrests which could result in injury to passengers or crew members during 

an emergency landing. 
EASA AD No.: 2008-0135 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 

Effective Date: 30 July 2008 

Required action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless already accomplished: 

 Before the accumulation of 13 000 total flight cycles (FC) since the 

seat first installation on aircraft but no later than 31 January 2009, 

whichever occurs first, replace the backrest P/N 313033000000 and/or 

313033100000 in accordance with the instructions given in 

Aviointeriors Service Bulletin (SB) 12M/F68-06. 

In case at the effective date of this AD seats have already exceeded 

the FC threshold mentioned above, it is allowed to perform the 

backrest replacement within 500 FC after the effective date of this AD, 

but no later 31 January 2009, whichever occurs first. 

 After the effective date of this AD, no person shall install Aviointeriors 

passenger seat assembly P/N 12M( )( )-( )( )( )( )( )( ) with backrests 

having P/N 313033000000 or 313033100000 (being either unmarked 

or marked with “O“ as per Aviointeriors SB 12M/F68-01 Revision 1) on 

any aircraft. 

 In case there is no possibility to replace the seat backrests within the 

required compliance time, the aircraft may be dispatched with the 

affected seat installed provided: 

• Seat is placarded as “Do not occupy” and measures are taken 

to be sure that the affected seat remains unoccupied during the 

flight duration; and 

• Affected seat does not block any emergency exit; and 

• Affected seat does not restrict any passenger to get access to 

the main aisle. 

Ref. Publications: Aviointeriors Service Bulletin 12M/F68-01 Revision 1 dated 2 October 2006; 

Aviointeriors Service Bulletin 12M/F68-06 Revision new dated 17 June 

2008. 

The use of later approved revisions of these documents is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD. 

Remarks : 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. This AD was posted on 25 June 2008 as PAD 08-075 for consultation 

until 10 July 2008. The Comment Response Document can be found at 

http://ad.easa.europa.eu. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness 

Directives, Safety Management & Research Section, Certification 

Directorate, EASA. E-mail ADs@easa.europa.eu. 

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact: Aviointeriors S.p.A. Engineering Product 

Support; Phone: + 39 0773 689291; Fax: +39 0773 631546, 

E-mail : avio@aviointeriors.it