2008-04-18: Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCL)

2008-04-18 Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER): Amendment 39-15390. Docket No. FAA-2007-0075; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-171-AD. Effective Date (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 3, 2008. Affected ADs (b) None. Applicability (c) This AD applies to all EMBRAER Model EMB-120, -120ER, - 120FC, -120QC, and -120RT airplanes; certificated in any category. Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance according to paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include adescription of changes to the required inspections that will ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane. Subject (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel. Reason (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states: It has been found that former revisions of the Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR) of the EMB-120( ) aircraft do not fully comply with some Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCL) and Fuel System Limitations (FSL). These limitations are necessary to preclude ignition sources in the fuel system, as required by RBHA-E88/SFAR-88 (Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88). Since this condition affects flight safety, a corrective action is required. Thus, sufficient reason exists to request compliance with this AD in the indicated time limit. The potential of ignition sources, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane. The corrective action is revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. Actions and Compliance (f) Unless already done, do the following actions. (1) Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD, revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate Tasks 15 to 18 of Section 6-- "Part E--Fuel System Limitations,'' EMBRAER Temporary Revision No. 22-1, dated November 18, 2005, of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR), MRB-HI-200. For all tasks identified in the MRBR, the initial compliance times start from the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (f)(1)(ii) of this AD, and the repetitive inspections must be accomplished thereafter at the interval specified in the MRBR, except as provided by paragraphs (f)(3) and (g)(1) of this AD. (i) The effective date of this AD. (ii) The date of issuance of the original Brazilian standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original Brazilian export certificate of airworthiness. (2) Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD, revise the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate the CDCCLs to include items (1) and (2), dated March 22, 2005, of Section 6--"Part D--Critical Design Configuration Control Limitation,'' of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia MRBR, MRB-HI-200. (3) For the functional checks and detailed visual inspections, Tasks 15 to 18 of Section 6--"Part E--Fuel System Limitations,'' EMBRAER Temporary Revision No. 22-1, dated November 18, 2005, of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia MRBR, MRB-HI-200: The initial compliance time is within 4,000 flight hours or 48 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. Thereafter those tasks must be accomplished at the repetitive interval specified in Section 6-- "Part E--Fuel System Limitations,'' EMBRAER Temporary Revision No. 22-1, dated November 18, 2005, of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia MRBR, MRB-HI-200. (4) After accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, no alternative inspections, inspection intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are part of a later revision of EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia MRBR, MRB-HI-200, dated March 22, 2005, that is approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, or the Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) (or its delegated agent); or unless the inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an alternative method of compliance in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. FAA AD Differences Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. Other FAA AD Provisions (g) The following provisionsalso 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. Send information to ATTN: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120- 0056. Related Information (h) Refer to MCAI Brazilian Airworthiness Directive 2007-05-02, effective June 6, 2007; EMBRAER Temporary Revision No. 22-1, dated November 18, 2005, of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia MRBR, MRB-HI-200; and Section 6--"Part D--Critical Design Configuration Control Limitation,'' of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia MRBR, MRB-HI-200; for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use EMBRAER Temporary Revision No. 22-1, dated November 18, 2005, of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia Maintenance Review Board Report, MRB-HI-200; and pages 6.III.1 and 6.III.2, dated March 22, 2005, of Section 6--"Part D--Critical Design Configuration Control Limitation,'' of the EMBRAER EMB-120 Brasilia Maintenance Review Board Report, MRB-HI-200; to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. EMBRAER EMB- 120 Brasilia Maintenance Review Board Report, MRB-HI-200, contains the following effective pages: Page No. Date shown on page Pages III-VII December 1, 2006 (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343--CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil. (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or 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.