2008-04-19: Fuel tank system

2008-04-19 ATR--GIE Avions de Transport Regional (Formerly Aerospatiale): Amendment 39-15391. Docket No. FAA-2007-29332; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-172-AD. Effective Date (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 3, 2008. Affected ADs (b) None. Applicability (c) This AD applies to all ATR Model ATR42-200, -300, -320, and -500 airplanes; and all ATR Model ATR72-101, -201, -102, -202, -211, -212, and -212A 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 a description 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: Subsequent to accidents involving Fuel Tank System explosions in flight * * * and on ground, the FAA published Special Federal Aviation Regulation 88 (SFAR 88) in June 2001. SFAR 88 required a safety review of the aircraft Fuel Tank System to determine that the design meets the requirements of FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) Sec. 25.901 and Sec. 25.981(a) and (b). A similar regulation has been recommended by the JAA (Joint Aviation Authorities) to the European National Aviation Authorities in JAA letter 04/00/02/07/03-L024 of 3 February 2003. The review was requested to be mandated by NAA's (National Aviation Authorities) using JAR (Joint Aviation Regulation) Sec. 25.901(c), Sec. 25.1309. In August 2005 EASA published a policy statement on the process for developing instructions for maintenance and inspection of Fuel Tank System ignition source prevention (EASA D 2005/CPRO, www.easa.eu.int/home/cert_policy_statements_en.html) that also included the EASA expectations with regard to compliance times of the corrective actions on the unsafe and the not unsafe part of the harmonised design review results. On a global scale the TC (type certificate) holders committed themselves to the EASA published compliance dates (see EASA policy statement). The EASA policy statement has been revised in March 2006: The date of 31-12-2005 for the unsafe related actions has now been set at 01-07-2006. Fuel Airworthiness Limitations are items arising from a systems safety analysis that have been shown to have failure mode(s) associated with an `unsafe condition' as defined in FAA's memo 2003- 112-15 `SFAR 88--Mandatory Action Decision Criteria'. These are identified in Failure Conditions for which an unacceptable probability of ignition risk could exist if specific tasks and/or practices are not performed in accordance with the manufacturers' requirements. This EASA Airworthiness Directive mandates the Fuel System Airworthiness Limitations (comprising maintenance/inspection tasks and Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCL)) for the type of aircraft, that resulted from the design reviews and the JAA recommendation and EASA policy statement mentioned above. 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 3 months after the effective date of this AD, or before December 16, 2008, whichever occurs first, revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate Task 28.10.00 "Fuel Tank-- General,'' and Task 28.20.00 "Distribution,'' of the Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR) Section of the Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR), Revision 7, dated March 31, 2006; the ATR 42-400/-500 MRBR, Revision 6, dated March 26, 2007; or the ATR 72 MRBR, Revision 8, dated March 26, 2007; as applicable. For all tasks identified in the applicable 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, except as provided by paragraphs (f)(3) and (g) of this AD. The repetitive inspections must be accomplished thereafter at the interval specified in the applicable MRBR. (i) The effective date of this AD. (ii) The date of issuance of the original French standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original French export certificate of airworthiness. (2) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, or before December 16, 2008, whichever occurs first, revise the ALS of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate the CDCCLs as defined in Section 4., "Critical Design Configuration Control List,'' of the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 MRBR, Revision 7, dated March 31, 2006; the ATR 42-400/-500 MRBR, Revision 6, dated March 26, 2007; or the ATR 72 MRBR, Revision 8, dated March 26, 2007; as applicable. (3) For the task titled "Detailed visual inspection of the fuel tanks and associated equipment, wiring, piping and braids'' (CMR task reference 28.10.00-1): The initial compliance time is the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(3)(i) and (f)(3)(ii) of this AD. Thereafter, the task titled "Detailed visual inspection of the fuel tanks and associated equipment, wiring, piping and braids'' must be accomplished at the repetitive interval specified in Section 4., "Critical Design Configuration Control List,'' of the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 MRBR, Revision 7, dated March 31, 2006; the ATR 42-400/-500 MRBR, Revision 6, dated March 26, 2007; or the ATR 72 MRBR, Revision 8, dated March 26, 2007; as applicable. (i) Within 144 months since the date of issuance of the original French standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original French export certificate of airworthiness. (ii) Within 72 months or 20,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. (4) After accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), and (f)(3) of this AD, no alternative inspection, inspection intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are part of a later revision of the ATR 42-200/ -300/-320 MRBR, Revision 7, dated March 31, 2006; ATR 42-400/-500 MRBR,Revision 6, dated March 26, 2007; or ATR 72 MRBR, Revision 8, dated March 26, 2007; as applicable; that is approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (or its delegated agent); or unless the inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (g) 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 provisions also apply to this AD: (1) 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: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1137; 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 EASA Airworthiness Directive 2006-0219R1, dated June 29, 2007, and the service information identified in Table 1 of this AD, for related information. Table 1.--Service Information Document Revision Level Date Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 Maintenance Review Board Report 7 March 31, 2006 Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-400/-500 Maintenance Review Board Report 6 March 26, 2007 Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 72 Maintenance Review Board Report 8 March 26, 2007 Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use the service information specified in Table 2 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference Document Revision Level Date Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 Maintenance Review Board Report 7 March 31, 2006 Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-400/-500 Maintenance Review Board Report 6 March 26, 2007 Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 72 Maintenance Review Board Report 8 March 26, 2007 The missing page number for the "List of Effective Pages'' of the Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 Maintenance Review Board Report is 1-LEP. The "List of Effective Pages'' for the Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-400/-500 Maintenance Review Board Report contains a typographical error: The date for Page 3 should read March 2007. The first page of the "Reasons for Revisions'' section of the Time Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 72 Maintenance Review Board Report is incorrectly identified as Page 2-RFR; that page should be identified as Page 1- RFR. (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 ATR, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France. (3) Youmay 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.