[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 46 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12129-12131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2145]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20220; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-152-AD; 
Amendment 39-14504; AD 2006-05-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42-200, -300, and 
-320 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Aerospatiale Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. This AD 
requires doing repetitive inspections of the upper arms of the main 
landing gear (MLG) side braces for missing or inadequately bonded 
identification plates; doing an ultrasonic inspection of the upper arm 
of the MLG side brace for any defects and related investigative/
corrective actions if necessary; and replacing the side brace assembly 
with a modified part. This AD results from an operator who reported 
experiencing an unlock warning for the MLG on the right side of the 
airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the upper arms 
of the side braces of the MLG, which could result in failure of the MLG 
during landing and possible damage to the airplane and injury to the 
flightcrew and passengers.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 13, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 13, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 
03, France, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the 
plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain 
Aerospatiale Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. That 
supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 13, 
2005 (70 FR 73671). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require 
repetitive inspections of the upper arms of the main landing gear (MLG) 
side braces for missing or inadequately bonded identification plates; 
doing an ultrasonic inspection of the upper arm of the MLG side brace 
for any defects and related investigative/corrective actions if 
necessary; and replacing the side brace assembly with a modified part.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the 
supplemental NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Change Made to This AD

    We have added a grace period of 25 flight hours to paragraph (i) of 
this AD for operators who may inadvertently use Revision 1 of Messier-
Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 631-32-181, dated March 16, 
2005, after the effective date of this AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the 
change described previously. We have determined that this change will 
neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 
scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

[[Page 12130]]



                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Number of
                                                                    Average                   Cost per      U.S.-
               Action                         Work hours           labor rate     Parts       airplane    registered              Fleet cost
                                                                    per hour                              airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General visual inspection, per       1..........................          $65         None          $65           54  $3,510, per inspection cycle.
 inspection cycle.
Replacement of side brace            2 (1 hour per side brace)..           65           $0          130           54  $7,020.
 assemblies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 have 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 DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-05-07 Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-14504. Docket No. FAA-2005-
20220; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-152-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 13, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Aerospatiale Model ATR42-200, -300, and -
320 airplanes, certificated in any category; with main landing gear 
(MLG) side brace assemblies having part number (P/N) D22710000-( ) 
except -8, equipped with upper arms having P/N D56778-10.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an operator who reported experiencing 
an unlock warning for the MLG on the right side of the airplane. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the upper arms of the 
side braces of the MLG, which could result in failure of the MLG 
during landing and possible damage to the airplane and injury to the 
flightcrew and passengers.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Service Bulletin References

    (f) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the following service bulletins, as 
applicable:
    (1) For the general visual inspection and ultrasonic inspection 
specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, respectively: 
Messier-Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 631-32-181, 
Revision 2, dated June 3, 2005; and
    (2) For the replacement specified in paragraph (j) of this AD: 
Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 631-32-176, Revision 1, dated June 2, 
2004.

Repetitive Inspections of Identification Plates

    (g) Within 2 months or 500 flight hours after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever is first: Do a general visual inspection of 
the upper arms of the MLG side braces for inadequately bonded 
identification plates having P/Ns D61565-1, D61566-1, D61567-1, and 
D61568-1 and for any missing bead of glue, in accordance with the 
service bulletin. Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2 months or 
500 flight hours, whichever is first: Repeat the inspection of the 
upper arm of the MLG side brace for any side brace assembly that has 
not been inspected in accordance with paragraph (h) of this AD or 
replaced as required by paragraph (j) of this AD.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

Ultrasonic Inspection, if Necessary

    (h) If any identification plate having P/N D61565-1, D61566-1, 
D61567-1, or D61568-1 or any bead of glue is missing or found 
inadequately bonded during any inspection required by paragraph (g) 
of this AD: Within 25 flight hours since the most recent general 
visual inspection, do an ultrasonic inspection of the upper arm of 
the MLG side brace for any defects and do any related investigative 
and corrective actions as applicable, by doing all of the applicable 
actions specified in Part 2.B.(3) of the service bulletin; except 
where the service bulletin specifies replacing the side brace with a 
side brace equipped with an airworthy upper arm, replace it with a

[[Page 12131]]

part modified in accordance with paragraph (j) of this AD. Any 
corrective actions must be done before further flight after doing 
the ultrasonic inspection.

Additional Ultrasonic Inspection for Certain Airplanes

    (i) For airplanes on which the ultrasonic inspection specified 
in paragraph (h) of this AD has been accomplished in accordance with 
Messier-Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 631-32-181, 
Revision 1, dated March 16, 2005: Within 25 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD, or within 25 flight hours after the 
ultrasonic inspection, whichever is later, do all the applicable 
actions specified in paragraph (h) of this AD in accordance with 
Messier-Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 631-32-181, 
Revision 2, dated June 3, 2005.

Replacement With a Modified Side Brace Assembly

    (j) At the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph 
(j)(1) or (j)(2) of this AD: Remove the side brace assembly and 
replace it with a part modified by doing all of the actions in the 
service bulletin. Replacement of a side brace assembly with a 
modified part terminates the repetitive inspections required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD for that modified side brace assembly only. 
If the side brace assembly of the left and right MLG is replaced 
with a modified part, no more work is required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD.
    (1) For airplanes on which Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 631-
32-072 has not been accomplished: Before the accumulation of 15,000 
total flight cycles on a side brace assembly since new or since last 
overhaul, or 96 months on a side brace assembly since new or since 
last overhaul, whichever is first.
    (2) For airplanes on which Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 631-
32-072 has been accomplished: Before the accumulation of 18,000 
total flight cycles on a side brace assembly since new or since last 
overhaul, or 96 months on a side brace assembly since new or since 
last overhaul, whichever is first.

Credit for Previous Service Bulletin

    (k) Replacements done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 631-32-176, dated 
February 26, 2004, are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding requirements of paragraph (j) of this AD.

No Reporting Requirement

    (l) Although Messier-Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 
631-32-181, Revision 2, dated June 3, 2005, specifies to submit 
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include 
that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (m)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR 
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (n) French airworthiness directive F-2005-106, dated July 6, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (o) You must use Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 631-32-176, 
Revision 1, dated June 2, 2004; and Messier-Dowty Special Inspection 
Service Bulletin 631-32-181, Revision 2, dated June 3, 2005, as 
applicable, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise. Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 
631-32-176, Revision 1, dated June 2, 2004, contains the following 
effective pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Revision level
            Page No.                shown on page     Date shown on page
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 3...........................  1.................  June 2, 2004.
2, 4-9.........................  Original..........  February 26, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Messier-Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 631-32-181, 
Revision 2, dated June 3, 2005, contains the following effective 
pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Revision level
            Page No.                shown on page     Date shown on page
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-5, 7-18......................  2.................  June 3, 2005.
6..............................  1.................  March 16, 2005.
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    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation 
by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 
Toulouse, Cedex 03, France, for a copy of this service information. 
You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the 
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/7fxsp0;ibr--
locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 22, 2006.
Michael J. Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2145 Filed 3-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P