2008-04-19 R1: Fuel

2008-04-19 R1 ATR--GIE Avions de Transport Regional (Formerly Aerospatiale): Amendment 39-16069. Docket No. FAA-2009-0999; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-155-AD. \n\nEffective Date \n\n\t(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 18, 2009. \n\nAffected ADs \n\n\t(b) This AD revises AD 2008-04-19, Amendment 39-15391. \n\nApplicability \n\n\t(c) This AD applies to all ATR Model ATR 42-200, -300, -320, and -500 airplanes; and all ATR Model ATR 72-101, -201, -102, -202, - 211, -212, and -212A airplanes; certificated in any category. \n\n\tNote 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 operatormust 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. \n\nSubject \n\n\t(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel. \n\nReason \n\n\t(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states: \n\tSubsequent 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). \n\tA 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 tobe mandated by NAA's (National Aviation Authorities) using JAR (Joint Aviation Regulation) Sec. 25.901(c), Sec. 25.1309. \n\tIn 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, http:// 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. \n\tFuel 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. \n\tThis 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. \n\tThe corrective action is revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. \n\nRestatement of AD 2008-04-19 With Changes to Compliance Method \n\nActions and Compliance \n\n\t(f) Unless already done, do the following actions. \n\t(1) Within 3 months after April 3, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-04-19), revise the ALS of the ICA 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. \n\t(i) April 3, 2008. \n\t(ii) The date of issuance of the original French standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original French exportcertificate of airworthiness. \n\t(2) Within 3 months after April 3, 2008, revise the ALS of the ICA 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. \n\t(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. \n\t(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. \n\t(ii) Within 72 months or 20,000 flight hours after April 3, 2008, whichever occurs first. \n\t(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 approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC), in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. \n\nNew Information \n\nExplanation of CDCCL Requirements \n\n\tNote 2: Notwithstanding any other maintenance or operational requirements, components that have been identified as airworthy or installed on the affected airplanes before the revision of the ALS, as required by paragraph (f) of this AD, do not need to be reworked in accordance with the CDCCLs. However, once the ALS has been revised, future maintenance actions on these components must be done in accordance with the CDCCLs. \n\nFAA AD Differences \n\n\tNote 3: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. \n\nOther FAA AD Provisions \n\n\t(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD: \n\t(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: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. \n\t(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 ensure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. \n\t(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056. \n\nRelated Information \n\n\t(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2006-0219R1, dated June 29, 2007, and the service information identified in Table 1 of this AD, for related information. \n\n\tTable 1--Service Information \n\n\nDocument\nRevision Level \nDate\nTime Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 Maintenance Review Board Report\n7\nMarch 31, 2006\nTime Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-400/-500 Maintenance Review Board Report\n6\nMarch 26, 2007\nTime Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 72 Maintenance Review Board Report\n8\nMarch 26, 2007\n\nMaterial Incorporated by Reference \n\n\t(i) You must use the applicable service information contained in Table 2 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. \n\n\tTable 2--Material Incorporated by Reference\n\n\nDocument\nRevision Level \nDate\nTime Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-200/-300/-320 Maintenance Review Board Report\n7\nMarch 31, 2006\nTime Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 42-400/-500 Maintenance Review Board Report\n6\nMarch 26, 2007\nTime Limits Section of Part 1 of the ATR 72 Maintenance Review Board Report\n8\nMarch 26, 2007\n\n\t(1) The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of this service information on April 3, 2008 (73 FR 10652, February 28, 2008). \n\t(2) For 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; e-mail continued.airworthiness@atr.fr; Internet http://www.aerochain.com. \n\t(3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152. \n\t(4) You may also review copies of the 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ ibr_locations.html.