[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23494-23497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10258]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9430; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-051-AD; 
Amendment 39-18874; AD 2017-09-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; ATR-GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes 
and Model ATR72-102, -202, -212, and -212A airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by reports of failure of emergency power supply units (EPSUs) 
in production and in service. This AD requires an inspection to 
determine the part number and serial number of each EPSU, and 
replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 27, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of June 27, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: For ATR service information identified in this final rule, 
contact ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, 1, All[eacute]e 
Pierre Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 
21; fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email [email protected]; 
Internet http://www.aerochain.com.
    For COBHAM service information identified in this final rule, 
contact COBHAM Aerospace Communications, 174-178 Quai de Jemmapes, 
Paris, France, 75010; telephone +33 (0) 1 53 38 98 98; fax +33 (0) 1 42 
00 67 83; Internet www.cobham.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-2016-
9430.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9430; 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 Office (telephone 
800-647-5527) is 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 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 
Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
telephone 425-227-1112; 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 certain ATR-GIE Avions de 
Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes and Model ATR72-
102, -202, -212, and -212A airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on December 1, 2016 (81 FR 86627). The NPRM was prompted by 
reports of failure of EPSUs in production and in service. The NPRM 
proposed to require an inspection to determine the part number and 
serial number of each EPSU, and replacement if necessary. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct defective internal electronic 
components, which could adversely affect the EPSU internal battery. 
This condition could result in a partial or total loss of emergency 
lighting, possibly affecting passenger evacuation during an emergency 
situation.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2016-0070, dated April 11, 2016; corrected April 12, 2016 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''); to correct an unsafe condition for certain ATR-GIE 
Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes and Model 
ATR72-102, -202, -212, and -212A airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Some failure cases have been reported of emergency power supply 
units (EPSU), Part Number (P/N) 301-3100 Amdt [Amendment] A, both on 
the production line and in service. The results of the technical 
investigations revealed that these failures could have been caused 
by a defective internal electronic component, which could affect the 
EPSU internal battery charge.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in a 
partial or total (depending on number of affected EPSUs installed) 
loss of emergency lighting, possibly affecting passenger evacuation 
during an emergency situation.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, ATR issued Service 
Bulletin (SB) ATR42-33-0050 and SB ATR72-33-1043 to provide 
instructions to inspect EPSUs.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
identification and replacement of the affected EPSUs with 
serviceable units.
    This [EASA] AD was republished to correct two typographical 
errors in paragraph (3) of the [EASA] AD and to specify the correct 
Revision (3) of the Cobham SB 301-3100-33-002.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9430.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to that comment.

[[Page 23495]]

Request To Refer to Revised Service Information

    Empire Airlines requested that the NPRM be revised to refer to the 
current revision levels of the applicable ATR service information, 
which were issued by ATR after the NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register. Empire Airlines noted that the revised service information 
does not include any additional actions for airplanes on which the 
previous service information was accomplished and the serial numbers of 
the parts to be inspected have not changed.
    We agree with the commenter's request for the reasons provided by 
the commenter. In paragraph (g) of the proposed AD, we identified ATR 
Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, Revision 01, dated January 26, 2016; 
and ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, Revision 01, dated January 26, 
2016; as the appropriate sources of service information for doing the 
EPSU inspection and corrective actions. We have revised paragraph (g) 
of this AD to refer to ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, Revision 03, 
dated May 25, 2016; and ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, Revision 
03, dated July 20, 2016; as the appropriate sources of service 
information for accomplishing the required actions.
    We have also revised paragraph (k) of this AD to provide credit for 
the actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD if those actions were 
performed before the effective date of this AD using the service 
information identified in paragraphs (k)(1) through (k)(6) of this AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    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

    ATR has issued Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, Revision 03, dated 
May 25, 2016; and ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, Revision 03, 
dated July 20, 2016. This service information describes procedures for 
inspecting an EPSU to determine the part number, serial number, and 
amendment level, and replacing the EPSU. These documents are distinct 
since they apply to different airplane models.
    Cobham Aerospace Communications has issued COBHAM Service Bulletin 
301-3100-33-002, Revision 3, dated July 30, 2015, which describes 
procedures for modifying an EPSU by replacing the printed circuit 
board.
    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 11 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost         Parts cost       Cost per product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection........................  1 work-hour x $85 per              $0  $85 per EPSU (4 EPSUs          $3,740
                                     hour = $85 per EPSU.                   per airplane).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these 
replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                Action                            Labor cost                   Parts cost             product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement...........................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour =    Not available...........             $85
                                         $85 per EPSU.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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);

[[Page 23496]]

    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.

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

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2017-09-12 ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional: Amendment 
39-18874; Docket No. FAA-2016-9430; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-
051-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective June 27, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the ATR-GIE Avions de Transport 
R[eacute]gional airplanes, certificated in any category, identified 
in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Model ATR42-500 airplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers 
(MSNs), except those on which ATR Modification 6780 has been 
embodied in production.
    (2) Model ATR72-102, -202, -212, and -212A airplanes, all MSNs 
on which ATR Modification 3715 has been embodied in production, 
except those on which ATR Modification 6780 has been embodied in 
production.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 33, Lights.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of failure of emergency power 
supply units (EPSUs) in production and in service. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct defective internal electronic 
components, which could adversely affect the EPSU internal battery. 
This condition could result in a partial or total loss of emergency 
lighting, possibly affecting passenger evacuation during an 
emergency situation.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection of EPSU and Corrective Action

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
each EPSU on the airplane to determine the part number (P/N) and 
serial number. For any EPSU having P/N 301-3100 Amendment (Amdt) A 
and a serial number identified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this 
AD, and that does not have a control sticker marked with ``SIL 301-
3100-33-001'': Except as provided by paragraph (i) of this AD, 
before further flight, replace the EPSU with a serviceable unit, as 
specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, 
Revision 03, dated May 25, 2016; or Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, 
Revision 03, dated July 20, 2016; as applicable. A review of 
airplane maintenance records may be done in lieu of inspection of 
the EPSUs on the airplane if the part number and serial number of 
each EPSU can be positively determined from that review.

            Figure 1 to Paragraph (g) of This AD--Affected Serial Numbers of EPSU P/N 301-3100 Amdt A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Affected Serial Numbers of EPSU P/N 301-3100 Amdt A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      2905           4929           4960          4994          5025          5077          5113          5156
      2906           4930           4961          4995          5026          5079          5114          5157
      3401           4931           4962          4996          5027          5080          5115          5158
      3697           4932           4963          4997          5028          5081          5116          5159
      3825           4933           4964          4998          5029          5082          5117          5160
      4343           4934           4965          4999          5031          5083          5118          5161
      4420           4935           4966          5000          5032          5084          5119          5162
      4634           4936           4967          5001          5033          5085          5120          5163
      4706           4937           4968          5002          5034          5086          5121          5164
      4707           4938           4969          5003          5038          5087          5122          5166
      4708           4939           4970          5004          5041          5088          5123          5171
      4709           4940           4971          5005          5042          5089          5124          5172
      4710           4941           4972          5006          5046          5090          5125          5173
      4711           4942           4973          5007          5047          5091          5126          5174
      4712           4943           4976          5008          5050          5092          5127          5175
      4713           4944           4977          5009          5052          5096          5128          5176
      4714           4945           4978          5010          5054          5097          5129          5177
      4715           4946           4979          5011          5055          5098          5130          5178
      4716           4947           4980          5012          5056          5099          5131          5179
      4717           4948           4981          5013          5058          5100          5132          5180
      4718           4949           4982          5014          5059          5101          5133          5181
      4719           4950           4983          5015          5065          5103          5134          5182
      4720           4951           4984          5016          5067          5104          5135          5183
      4721           4952           4985          5017          5068          5105          5136          5184
      4722           4953           4986          5018          5069          5106          5138          5185
      4723           4954           4987          5019          5070          5107          5139          5186
      4724           4955           4988          5020          5071          5108          5140          5187
      4745           4956           4989          5021          5072          5109          5147          None
      4926           4957           4990          5022          5073          5110          5153          None
      4927           4958           4991          5023          5075          5111          5154          None
      4928           4959           4993          5024          5076          5112          5155          None
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 23497]]

(h) Definition of Serviceable EPSU

    For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable EPSU is one that meets 
the criteria in paragraph (h)(1), (h)(2), or (h)(3) of this AD.
    (1) Has P/N 301-3100 Amdt A and a serial number that is not 
included figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) Has P/N 301-3100 Amdt A and a serial number that is included 
in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD, but has a control sticker 
marked with ``SIL 301-3100-33-001.''
    (3) Has P/N 301-3100 Amdt B, or later amendment.

(i) Alternative Modification of Affected EPSU

    In lieu of the replacement required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 
modification of an affected EPSU may be done in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of COBHAM Service Bulletin 301-3100-33-
002, Revision 3, dated July 30, 2015.

(j) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on 
any airplane any EPSU having P/N 301-3100 Amdt A and a serial number 
identified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD, unless it has a 
control sticker marked with ``SIL 301-3100-33-001.''

(k) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective 
date of this AD using the applicable service information identified 
in paragraph (k)(1), (k)(2), (k)(3), (k)(4), (k)(5), or (k)(6) of 
this AD, provided it can be determined that no EPSU having a serial 
number listed in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD has been 
installed on that airplane since the actions in the applicable 
service bulletin were completed.
    (1) ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, dated December 11, 2015.
    (2) ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, Revision 01, dated 
January 26, 2016.
    (3) ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, Revision 02, dated May 
2, 2016.
    (4) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, dated December 11, 2015.
    (5) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, Revision 01, dated 
January 26, 2016.
    (6) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, Revision 02, dated May 
2, 2016.

(l) 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: Shahram 
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149. Information 
may be emailed to: [email protected]. 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.
    (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 the 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or ATR-GIE Avions de 
Transport R[eacute]gional's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). 
If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized 
signature.

(m) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2016-0070, dated April 11, 2016; corrected April 12, 
2016; for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9430.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Shahram 
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149. Information 
may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (3) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (n)(3), (n)(4), and (n)(5) of this AD.

(n) 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 Service Bulletin ATR42-33-0050, Revision 03, dated May 
25, 2016.
    (ii) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-33-1043, Revision 03, dated July 
20, 2016.
    (iii) COBHAM Service Bulletin 301-3100-33-002, Revision 3, dated 
July 30, 2015.
    (3) For ATR service information identified in this AD, contact 
ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, 1, All[eacute]e Pierre 
Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; 
fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email [email protected]; 
Internet http://www.aerochain.com.
    (4) For COBHAM service information identified in this AD, 
contact Cobham Aerospace Communications, 174-178 Quai de Jemmapes, 
Paris, France, 75010; telephone +33 (0) 1 53 38 98 98; fax +33 (0) 1 
42 00 67 83.
    (5) 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.
    (6) 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/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 27, 2017.
Paul Bernado,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-10258 Filed 5-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P