EASA AD No.: 2013-0047

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2013-0047

Date: 04 March 2013

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 EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.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 AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, 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].

Design Approval Holder’s Name:

ATR-GIE AVIONS DE TRANSPORT RÉGIONAL

Type/Model designation(s):

ATR 72 aeroplanes

TCDS Number: EASA A.084

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA 28 Fuel – Fuel Indicating System – Modification

Manufacturer(s): ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional (formerly AEROSPATIALE –

AERITALIA, AEROSPATIALE – ALENIA, AEROSPATIALE ATR – ALENIA, 

EADS ATR – ALENIA)

Applicability: Models ATR 72-101, ATR 72-102, ATR 72-201, ATR 72-202, ATR 72-211, ATR 

72-212, and 72-212A aeroplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers, except 

aeroplanes that have received ATR modification 5948 in production.

Reason: Large aeroplane incidents and accidents have occurred because of fuel tank 

low level situations, or because of fuel starvation, resulting in one or several 

engine(s) flame-out. The results of the investigation into an ATR 72 accident in 

August 2005 have shown that overruling standard operational procedures and 

maintenance practices have led to this kind of occurrence.

Consequently, additional actions to help avoid maintenance errors, like 

installation of a wrong gauge or wrong indicator, need to be taken.

Although it is recognised that the fuel (indicating) system of the ATR42/72 type 

design is compliant with the applicable requirements, the risk of other 

maintenance errors will be mitigated by making installation of an ATR 42 Fuel 

Quantity Indicator (FQI) on an ATR 72 aeroplane mechanically impossible 

through a specific design change on the ATR 72.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires modification of the ATR 72 

FQI by installing a locking adaptor on the electrical connector.

Effective Date: 18 March 2013
EASA AD No.: 2013-0047

TE.CAP.00110-003 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 2/2

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Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Within the compliance time defined in Table 1, as applicable to aeroplane

configuration, install a FQI equipped with a locking adaptor on the electrical 

connector, in accordance with the instructions of ATR Service Bulletin (SB) 

ATR72-28-1026.

Table 1: Modified FQI Installation

Aeroplane configuration Compliance time, after the 

effective date of this AD

Fuel secondary low level detection 

system not installed (see Note 1)

24 months 

Fuel secondary low level detection 

system installed (see Note 1)

36 months

Note 1: The fuel secondary low level detection system may have been installed 

through the embodiment of ATR Modification 04686 in production, or through 

ATR SB ATR72-28-1013 or ATR72-28-1022 in service, as applicable.

Ref. Publications: ATR SB ATR72-28-1026 dated 26 February 2013.

The use of later approved revisions of this document 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 23 January 2013 as PAD 13-020 for consultation 

until 20 February 2013. No comments were received during the 

consultation period.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

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

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

this AD, please contact:

ATR - GIE Avions de Transport Régional,

Continued Airworthiness Service,

Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 21 62 21 - Fax: +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18;

E-mail: continued.airworthiness@atr.fr.