[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58533-58546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26621]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1101; Product Identifier 2016-NM-030-AD; Amendment 
39-19122; AD 2017-25-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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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 and ATR72-
212A airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to 
provide procedures to the flightcrew for operational restrictions 
affecting in-flight use of the autopilot (AP) or yaw damper (YD) during 
single source operation. This AD was prompted by flight test 
evaluations that revealed discrepancies with the YD and AP when in 
single source operation on certain airplanes. We are issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 28, 2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 29, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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-2017-
1101; or in person at the Docket Operations office 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. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 
Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-
227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2016-0046, dated March 9, 2016 (referred to 
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on certain ATR-GIE Avions 
de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 and Model ATR72-212A 
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Following investigations after EASA AD 2015-0237R1 was issued, 
additional flight tests evaluations performed on ATR aeroplanes 
equipped with New Avionics Suite Standard 2 have revealed an 
unsatisfactory behaviour of the Yaw Damper/Autopilot (YD/AP), when 
in `single source operation' (i.e. one Air Data Computer (ADC) 
inoperative, one Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) 
inoperative, or failure of both Direct Current (DC) Generators), 
upon a sudden engine power asymmetry at low Indicated Air Speed 
(IAS).
    This unsatisfactory behavior is due to the YD limited authority 
in single source and is

[[Page 58534]]

characterized by inappropriate flight equilibrium, with important 
flight control efforts needed on the roll axis to safely control the 
aeroplane.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of 
control of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
amendment of the applicable Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to 
introduce AP and YD operational restrictions, when in single source 
and operating at an IAS below 160kt.
    This [EASA] AD is considered an interim action and further 
[EASA] AD action may follow.

    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1101.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced 
above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent 
information and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of these same type designs.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    There are currently no domestic operators of this product. 
Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are unnecessary. In addition, for the reason(s) stated 
above, we find that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-1101; Product 
Identifier 2016-NM-030-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD based on 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. If an 
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future, we provide the following cost estimates to comply with this AD:
    We estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour 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 $85 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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes to 
the Director of the System Oversight Division.

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.

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):

2017-25-08 ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional: Amendment 
39-19122; Docket No. FAA-2017-1101; Product Identifier 2016-NM-030-
AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 28, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional 
Model ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes, certificated in any 
category, all manufacturer serial numbers, as specified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Airplanes modified in production by incorporation of Avions 
de Transport R[eacute]gional modification 6977 (New Avionics Suite 
Standard 2).
    (2) Airplanes modified in service by incorporation of Avions de 
Transport R[eacute]gional Service Bulletin ATR42-31-0091, Revision 
02, January 18, 2016, or Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Service 
Bulletin ATR72-31-1092, Revision 03, dated January 18, 2016, as 
applicable.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 22, Auto Flight.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by flight test evaluations that revealed 
discrepancies with

[[Page 58535]]

the yaw damper (YD) and autopilot (AP) when in single source 
operation on certain airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of certain operational systems in flight, which could result 
in loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Revise the Airplane Flight Manual

    (1) Within 15 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations Section, Emergency Procedures section, and 
Procedures Following Failures section of the ATR-42 and ATR-72 
airplane flight manuals (AFMs), as applicable, to include the 
information in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD or figure 2 to 
paragraph (g) of this AD, as applicable; inform all flight crews; 
and thereafter operate the airplane accordingly.
    (2) Revising the AFM as specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD 
can be done by inserting a copy of figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this 
AD or figure 2 to paragraph (g) of this AD, as applicable, into the 
applicable AFM.

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(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, 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 Section, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in paragraph (i)(2) of this AD. 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

[[Page 58546]]

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 
Section, Transport Standards Branch, 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA AD 2016-0046, dated March 9, 2016, for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2017-1101.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Shahram 
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport 
Standards Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
telephone 425-227-1112; fax 425-227-1149.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 4, 2017.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26621 Filed 12-12-17; 8:45 am]
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