Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 1483 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0080; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–189–AD; Amendment 

39–18357; AD 2015–26–09] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; ATR—GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

ATR—GIE Avions de Transport 

Re ́gional Model ATR42 airplanes. This 

AD was prompted by several reports of 

a cracked floor beam at frame (FR) 26, 

and of discrepancies in certain wing 

inspection tasks in maintenance 

documents that could lead to errors in 

scheduling inspection intervals of 

structurally significant items (SSIs). 

This AD requires repetitive inspections 

of certain floor beams and revision of 

the maintenance or inspection program 

to include inspections of several areas of 

the wings. We are issuing this AD to 

detect and correct any cracking of the 

floor beam at FR 26 and several areas of 

the wings, which could lead to reduced 

structural integrity of the airplane. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

February 17, 2016. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of February 17, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0080 or in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC. 

For service information identified in 

this final rule, contact ATR—GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional, 1, Alle ́e 

Pierre Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, 

France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; 

fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email 

continued.airworthiness@atr.fr; Internet 

http://www.aerochain.com. You may 

view this referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. It is also available 

on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

0080. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone 425–227–1137; 

fax 425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We 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 ATR42 

airplanes. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on January 26, 2015 

(80 FR 3921). 

European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2012–0193, dated September 

25, 2012 (referred to after this as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct 

an unsafe condition for all ATR—GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional Model 

ATR42 airplanes. The MCAI states: 

Floor beam at Frame 26: During 

maintenance checks, the floor beam at frame 

(FR) 26 was found cracked on several ATR 

42 aeroplanes. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to reduce the structural 

integrity of the aeroplane. A new Structural 

Significant Items (SSI) task will be 

introduced in the next revision of the ATR42 

Time Limits document in order to address 

this issue. 

MRBR/MPD discrepancy on Wings item: A 

discrepancy has been noticed between the 

Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR)/ 

Maintenance Planning Document (MPD) and 

the Time Limits document. ATR 

modifications 02805 and 08039 were 

erroneously stated similar in the MRBR/ 

MPD, inducing misleading applicability of 

the SSI tasks depending upon the document 

used and leading operators to miss several 

inspections, as evidenced during a recent 

review. 

Following the structural investigation, new 

inspection thresholds have been calculated 

and will be introduced in the next revisions 

of the ATR Time Limits documents (Revision 

8 and Revision 9, as applicable to the 

aeroplane models) and MRBR/MPD 

documents. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires repetitive inspections of 

the FR26 floor beam, and of several areas of 

the wings, as defined in the ATR42 Time 

Limits document and, depending on 

findings, the accomplishment of applicable 

corrective action(s). 

You may examine the MCAI in the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0080- 

0002. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

have considered the comment received. 

The following presents the comment 

received on the NPRM (80 FR 3921, 

January 26, 2015) and the FAA’s 

response. 

Request To Resolve Conflict Between 

the Effectivity of Certain Tasks and the 

Applicability of Paragraph (h) of This 

AD 

Empire Airlines requested that a 

conflict between the affected airplanes 

identified in paragraph (h) of the 

proposed AD (80 FR 3921, January 26, 

2015) and the effectivity of certain SSI 

tasks listed in table 1 to paragraph (h) 

of the proposed AD be removed. Empire 

Airlines noted that paragraph (h) of the 

proposed AD would apply to Model 

ATR42 airplanes on which ATR 

Modification 02805 was not embodied 

in production. The ATR MRBRs, 

however, identify certain SSI tasks as 

being effective only for airplanes on 

which ATR Modification 02805 has 

been embodied. Empire Airlines 

suggested that revising the NPRM to 

address this conflict could result in 

avoiding the need to request an 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC). 

We agree and have revised table 1 to 

paragraph (h) of this AD to remove the 

tasks that are associated only with postModification 02805 airplanes, i.e., tasks 

572301–3 and –5 for Model ATR–42– 

200, –300, and –320 airplanes. As stated 

in the MCAI, the time limit documents 

and the MRBR/MPD documents will be 

updated to include the new compliance 

times. 

We have clarified paragraph (h) of this 

AD by replacing the text ‘‘incorporating 

the SSI tasks’’ with the text 

‘‘incorporating the applicable SSI tasks 

and compliance times’’ to match the 

title of table 1 to paragraph (h) of this 

AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this AD 

with the change described previously 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 3921, 


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1484 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

January 26, 2015) for correcting the 

unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 3921, 

January 26, 2015). 

We also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of this AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional (ATR) 

has issued Job Instruction Card 535100 

DVI 10097, ‘‘DVI of FR26 Floor Beam 

Around Cut-outs for Cooling & Hydrau 

Ducts,’’ dated February 9, 2012 (for 

Model ATR42–200, –300, –320, and 

–500 airplanes). The service information 

describes procedures for a detailed 

inspection for damage (cracks, 

corrosion, dents, scratches, scores and 

abrasions) of the floor beam at FR 26, on 

the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) 

sides, and, for certain inspection 

findings, contacting the manufacturer 

for repair instructions. This service 

information 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 

We estimate that this AD affects 31 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it will take 

about 4 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this AD. The average labor rate is $85 

per work-hour. Based on these figures, 

we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 

operators to be $10,540, per inspection 

cycle, or $340, per inspection cycle, per 

product. 

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 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 this AD: 

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); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska; and 

4. 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. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0080; 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 Operations office (telephone 

800–647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES

section. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of 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 (AD): 

2015–26–09 ATR—GIE Avions de 

Transport Re ́gional: Amendment 39– 

18357. Docket No. FAA–2015–0080; 

Directorate Identifier 2012–NM–189–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective February 17, 

2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all ATR—GIE Avions 

de Transport Re ́gional (ATR) Model ATR42– 

200, –300, –320, and –500 airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Codes 53, Fuselage; and 57, Wings. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by several reports 

of a cracked floor beam at frame (FR) 26 on 

several Model ATR42 airplanes, and of 

discrepancies in certain wing inspection 

tasks in maintenance documents that could 

lead to errors in scheduling inspection 

intervals of structurally significant items 

(SSIs). We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct any cracking of the floor beam at FR 

26 and several areas of the wings, which 

could lead to reduced structural integrity of 

the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Repetitive Inspections and Corrective 

Actions for FR 26 Floor Beam for All Model 

ATR42 Airplanes 

(1) For all Model ATR42 airplanes: At the 

later of the compliance times specified in 

paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (g)(1)(ii) of this AD, 

and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 

12,000 flight cycles, accomplish a detailed 

inspection for damage (cracks, corrosion, 

dents, scratches, scores and abrasions) of the 

floor beam at FR 26, on the left-hand (LH) 

and right-hand (RH) sides, in accordance 

with the instructions of ATR Job Instruction 

Card 535100 DVI 10097, ‘‘DVI of FR26 Floor 

Beam Around Cut-outs for Cooling & Hydrau 

Ducts,’’ dated February 9, 2012 (for Model 

ATR42–200, –300, –320, and –500 airplanes). 

(i) Before the accumulation of 24,000 total 

flight cycles. 

(ii) Within 5,000 flight hours or 24 months, 

whichever occurs first, after the effective date 

of this AD. 

(2) If, during any inspection required by 

paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, any damage 

(corrosion or scratches that are greater than 

allowed, cracks, dents, scores and abrasions) 

is found: Before further flight, repair in 

accordance with a method approved by the 

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 

ATR—GIE Avions de Transport Re ́gional’s 

EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). 

(h) SSI Tasks for Certain Model ATR42 

Airplanes 

For Model ATR42 airplanes on which ATR 

modification 02805 was not embodied in 

production: Within 6 months after the 

effective date of this AD, revise the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 1485 

applicable, by incorporating the SSI tasks 

and compliance times identified in table 1 to 

paragraph (h) of this AD, in accordance with 

a method approved by the Manager, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA. 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (h) OF THIS AD—APPLICABLE SSI TASKS AND COMPLIANCE TIMES

For Model— Use SSI Task— At this initial time— And repeat at intervals not 

to exceed— 

ATR–42–500 airplanes ....... 572301–1 or –3, as applicable.Before 45,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

7,300 flight cycles. 

ATR–42–500 airplanes ....... 572305 ............................... Before 46,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

3,900 flight cycles. 

ATR42–200, –300, and 

–320 airplanes.

572301–1, or –4, as applicable.Before 45,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

7,300 flight cycles. 

ATR42–200, –300, and 

–320 airplanes.

572305–1 ........................... Before 46,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

3,900 flight cycles. 

ATR42–200, –300, and 

–320 airplanes.

572409 ............................... Before 42,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

9,000 flight cycles. 

ATR42–200, –300, and 

–320 airplanes.

572410, 572411, 572412, 

572413, 572414, and 

572415.

Before 43,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

10,000 flight cycles. 

ATR42–200, –300, and 

–320 airplanes.

572416 and 572417 .......... Before 44,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later.

7,300 flight cycles. 

Note 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD: For 

ATR42–500 airplanes, additional guidance 

for the maintenance or inspection program 

revision may be found in the ATR ATR 42– 

400/–500 Maintenance Review Board Report, 

Revision 13, dated November 30, 2011. 

Note 2 to paragraph (h) of this AD: For 

ATR42–200, –300, and –320 airplanes, 

additional guidance for the maintenance or 

inspection program revision may be found in 

the ATR ATR 42–200/–300/–320 

Maintenance Review Board Report, Revision 

13, dated November 30, 2011. 

(i) No Alternative Actions or Intervals 

After the maintenance or inspection 

program has been revised as required by 

paragraph (h) of this AD, no alternative 

actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may be 

used unless the actions or intervals are 

approved as an alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (j)(1) of 

this AD. 

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 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 local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1137; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using 

any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the local flight 

standards district office/certificate holding 

district office. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer, the action must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Branch, ANM– 

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or 

EASA; or ATR—GIE Avions de Transport 

Re ́gional’s EASA DOA. If approved by the 

DOA, the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2012–0193, dated 

September 25, 2012, for related information. 

This MCAI may be found in the AD docket 

on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov/

#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0080-0002. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (l)(3) and (l)(4) of this AD. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) 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) ATR Job Instruction Card 535100 DVI 

10097, ‘‘DVI of FR26 Floor Beam Around 

Cut-outs for Cooling & Hydrau Ducts,’’ dated 

February 9, 2012. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact ATR—GIE Avions de 

Transport Re ́gional, 1, Alle ́e Pierre Nadot, 

31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

(0) 5 62 21 62 21; fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; 

email continued.airworthiness@atr.fr; 

Internet http://www.aerochain.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference 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/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

December 21, 2015. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–32892 Filed 1–12–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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