AD 2021-20-09 FAA Has Determined That New Or More Restrictive Airworthiness Limitations Are Necessary

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-03-03, which applied to certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Model ATR72 airplanes.

AD 2021-03-03 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-03-03, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 27, 2021.

Supplementary Information: EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0020, dated January 15, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0020) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Model ATR72 airplanes.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-03-03, Amendment 39-21406 (86 FR 11103, February 24, 2021) (AD 2021-03-03). AD 2021-03-03 applied to certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Model ATR72 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2021 (86 FR 38239). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The NPRM proposed to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in EASA AD 2021-0020.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue cracking and damage in principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov