2024-05-13: Auto Flight

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2024-05-13 Embraer S.A.: Amendment 39-22705; Docket No. FAA-2024-0469; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00137-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 10, 2024. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Embraer S.A. Model EMB-545 and EMB-550 airplanes, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 22, Auto Flight. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of a hard landing event with substantial damage to the airplane, in which the angle of attack (AOA) limiter was engaged during the final approach phase in unstable air conditions and remained engaged until the airplane touched down on the runway. The FAA is issuing this AD to address AOA limiter engagement during the final approach phase when the landing flare is commanded, which could reduce pitch response during a critical phase of flight near the ground. In unstable air conditions, this condition, if not addressed, could result in a high-rate-of-descent landing and consequent catastrophic structural damage to the airplane on landing. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Requirements Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) AD 2024-02-02, effective February 26, 2024 (ANAC AD 2024-02-02). Note 1 to paragraph (g): Embraer EMB-545/EMB-550 Stall Protection, General Publication GP-8073, Revision 1, dated February 16, 2024, provides additional guidance regarding the actions required by this AD. (h) Exceptions to ANAC AD 2024-02-02 (1) Where ANAC AD 2024-02-02 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) This AD does not adopt paragraph (d) of ANAC AD 2024-02-02. (i) Records Inspection and Report of Results (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, each operator must inspect all aircraft records for instances of AOA limiter engagement that occur after passing the final approach fix inbound, or within 5 miles of the intended point of landing if a final approach fix is not required. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 30 days until 12 months after the effective date of this AD. One report per operator may include multiple aircraft for the same operator for that inspection. (2) Within 10 days after the records inspection required in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD, report the results of the inspection, regardless of whether the inspection found any entries, to the FAA by either email: 9-ASO-ATLACO-ADs@faa.gov; or mail: Attn: Continued Operational Safety, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. The report must include all known information about the event listed in paragraphs (i)(2)(i) through (viii) of this AD: (i) Date of records inspection; (ii) Date and time of all AOA limiter engagements that meet the criteria in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD (if any); (iii) Airplane serial number; (iv) Weather conditions at the time of each occurrence; (v) Copy of the pilot's report of the occurrence (if available); (vi) Any of the following data that is available: Destination, destination weather, Vref, Vapp, status of autopilot and autothrottle, airspeed at time of AOA limiter engagement, altitude at time of AOA limiter engagement, any turbulence present and its severity, crew action ( e.g., go around or continued approach), actual AOA at the time of limiter engagement, seat position of the pilot who was flying ( i.e., left or right); (vii) Flight operations quality assurance (FOQA) data (if available); and (viii) Any other information pertinent to the occurrence. (j) Additional AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 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 manager of the International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office. (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, International Validation Branch, FAA; or ANAC; or ANAC's authorized Designee. If approved by the ANAC Designee, the approval must include the Designee's authorized signature. (k) Additional Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Hassan Ibrahim, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 206-231-3653; email: hassan.m.ibrahim@faa.gov. (2) For Embraer S.A. service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference, contact Embraer S.A., Technical Publications Section (PC 560), Rodovia Presidente Dutra, km 134, 12247-004 Distrito Eugênio de Melo-São José dos Campos-SP-Brazil; telephone: +55 12 3927-0386; email: distrib@embraer.com.br; website: mytechcare.embraer.com. (l) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. (i) Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) AD 2024-02-02, effective February 26, 2024. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For ANAC AD 2024-02-02 that is incorporated by reference, contact National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), Aeronautical Products Certification Branch (GGCP), Rua Dr. Orlando Feirabend Filho, 230-Centro Empresarial Aquarius-Torre B-Andares 14 a 18, Parque Residencial Aquarius, CEP 12.246-190-São José dos Campos-SP, Brazil; telephone 55 (12) 3203-6600; email: pac@anac.gov.br; website anac.gov.br/en/. You may find this ANAC AD on the ANAC website at sistemas.anac.gov.br/certificacao/DA/DAE.asp. (4) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference 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. (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on March 13, 2024. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2024-06444 Filed 3-22-24; 11:15 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P