AD 2020-21-14

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R(eacute)gional Model ATR72 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of main landing gear (MLG) hinge pins found cracked or thermally abused. This AD requires replacing certain MLG hinge pins with serviceable parts, or replacing an MLG equipped with any affected MLG hinge pin with an MLG equipped with serviceable MLG hinge pins, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

Adoption of the Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): \n\n2020-21-14 ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R(eacute)gional: Amendment 39-21287; Docket No. FAA-2020-0676; Product Identifier 2020-NM-085- AD. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD is effective November 20, 2020. \n\n(b) Affected ADs \n\n\n\tNone. \n\n(c) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R(eacute)gional Model ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211, -212, and -212A airplanes, certificated in any category, all manufacturer serial numbers. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tAir Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing gear. \n\n(e)Reason \n\n\n\tThis AD was prompted by reports of main landing gear (MLG) hinge pins found cracked or thermally abused. The FAA is issuing this AD to address MLG hinge pins subjected to a non-detected thermal abuse during production, which could lead to structural failure and consequent collapse of the MLG, resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n(g) Requirements \n\n\n\tExcept as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0101, dated May 5, 2020 (''EASA AD 2020-0101''). \n\n(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0101 \n\n\n\t(1) Where EASA AD 2020-0101 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. \n\t(2) The ''Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2020-0101 does not apply to this AD. \n\n(i) NoReporting or Returning Parts Requirement \n\n\n\tAlthough the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0101 specifies to submit certain information and to return affected parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not include those requirements. \n\n(j) Other FAA AD Provisions \n\n\n\tThe following provisions also apply to this AD: \n\t(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principalinspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office. \n\t(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or 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. \n\n(k) Related Information \n\n\n\tFor more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 \n\n((Page 65674)) \n\nSouth 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231- 3220; email Shahram.Daneshmandi@faa.gov. \n\n(l) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the serviceinformation listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. \n\t(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. \n\t(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0101, dated May 5, 2020. \n\t(ii) (Reserved) \n\t(3) For EASA AD 2020-0101, contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer- Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; Internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. \n\t(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. This material may be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0676. \n\t(5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. \n\n\n\tIssued on October 6, 2020. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. (FR Doc. 2020-22792 Filed 10-15-20; 8:45 am) BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Discussion \n\n\n\tThe EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0101, dated May 5, 2020 (''EASA AD 2020-0101'') (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ''the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for all ATR--GIE Avions de Transport R(eacute)gional Model ATR72 airplanes. \n\tThe FAA 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 R(eacute)gional Model ATR72 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2020 (85 FR 46010). The NPRM was prompted by MLG hinge pins found cracked or thermally abused. The NPRM proposed to require replacing certain MLG hinge pins with serviceable parts, or replacing an MLG equipped with any affected MLG hinge pin with an MLG equipped with serviceable MLG hinge pins, as specified in EASA AD 2020-0101. \n\tThe FAA is issuingthis AD to address MLG hinge pins subjected to a non-detected thermal abuse during production, which could lead to structural failure and consequent collapse of the MLG, resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants. See the MCAI for additional background information. \n\nComments \n\n\n\tThe FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public. \n\nConclusion \n\n\n\tThe FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed, except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these minor changes: \n\tAre consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and \n\tDo not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM. \n\nRelated IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 51 \n\n\n\tEASA AD 2020-0101 describes procedures for replacing certain MLG hinge pins with serviceable parts, or replacing an MLG equipped with any affected MLG hinge pin with an MLG equipped with serviceable MLG hinge pins. This material 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. \n\n((Page 65673)) \n\nCosts of Compliance \n\n\n\tThe FAA estimates that this AD affects 23 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: \n\n\n\tEstimated Costs for Required Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\tCost per Cost on U.S. \n\tLabor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 work-hours x $85 per hour = $340........................... $ * $340 $7,820 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n* The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable providing parts cost estimates for the replacements\n\n\tspecified in this AD. \n\n\n\tAccording to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs in the cost estimate. \n\nAuthority for This Rulemaking \n\n\n\tTitle 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. \n\tThe FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in SubtitleVII, 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. \n\nRegulatory Findings \n\n\n\tThis 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. \n\tFor the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD: \n\t(1) Is not a ''significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, \n\t(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and \n\t(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. \n\nList of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 \n\n\n\tAir transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.