2026-16-07: Stabilizers

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: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-21-10, Amendment 39-22582 (88 FR 83820, December 1, 2023); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2026-16-07 ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional: Amendment 39-23437; Docket No. FAA-2026-3878; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00913-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 18, 2026. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2023-21-10, Amendment 39-22582 (88 FR 83820, December 1, 2023) (AD 2023-21-10). (c) Applicability This AD applies to ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Model ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-55-0020, Revision 03, dated January 31, 2025; ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-55-1013, Revision 03, dated January 31, 2025; ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-55-0025, dated February 3, 2025; or ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-55-1018, dated February 3, 2025; as applicable. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports of loose fasteners and cracks in the horizontal stabilizer (HS) left- and right-hand leading edge lateral ribs, the box in between, the center box upper panel, and HS forward back-up fitting. This AD was also prompted by a determination that additional airplanes are affected by the unsafe condition, and that the HS front spar web and center box internal area also need to be inspected. The FAA is issuing this AD to address loose, missing, or incorrectly installed fasteners, composite delamination, and cracks in the HS. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. (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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0110, dated May 14, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0110). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0110 (1) Where the Groups definition for Group 3 airplanes in EASA AD 2025-0110 refers to "the SB2", this AD requires replacing this text with "ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-55-0025, dated February 3, 2025; or ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-55-1018, dated February 3, 2025; as applicable". (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0110 refers to "06 July 2023 [the effective date of EASA AD 2023-0125]," this AD requires using January 5, 2024 (the effective date of AD 2023-21-10). (3) Where EASA AD 2025-0110 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (4) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0110 specifies if "any discrepancy as defined in the SB1 or the SB2, as applicable, is detected, before next flight, contact ATR for approved repair instructions and, within the compliance time identified therein, accomplish those instructions accordingly. If no compliance time for the repair is identified in those instructions, accomplish those instructions before next flight.", this AD requires replacing that text with "any discrepancy other than cracking is detected, before next flight, contact ATR for approved repair instructions and, within the compliance time identified therein, accomplish those instructions accordingly, except if no compliance time for the repair is identified in those instructions, accomplish those instructions before next flight; and if any crack is detected, the crack must be repaired before further flight using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature." (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2025-0110. (i) No Reporting Requirement Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0110 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. (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, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: 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 EASA; or ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional's EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. (k) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Christopher Spencer, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7332; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov. (l) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 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) ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-55-0020, Revision 03, dated January 31, 2025. (ii) ATR Service Bulletin ATR42-55-0025, dated February 3, 2025. (iii) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-55-1013, Revision 03, dated January 31, 2025. (iv) ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-55-1018, dated February 3, 2025. (v) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0110, dated May 14, 2025. (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) For ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional material identified in this AD, contact ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional, 1 Allée Pierre Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email continued.airworthiness@atr aircraft.com; website atr-aircraft.com . (5) 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. (6) 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 July 30, 2026. Steven W. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2026-16657 Filed 8-13-26; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P