AD 2020-09-16: ...To Incorporate New Or More Restrictive Maintenance Requirements And Airworthiness Limitations

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-17-09, AD 2008-04-19 R1, and AD 2015-26-09; and terminating all requirements of AD 2018-18-05; which applied to ATRGIE Avions de Transport Regional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes.

AD 2018-18-05 required updating the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations, and terminated the relevant requirements of AD 2000-17-09, AD 2008-04-19 R1, and AD 2015-26-09. 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. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 22, 2020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0256, dated October 17, 2019 (“EASA AD 2019-0256”) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. EASA AD 2019-0256 supersedes EASA AD 2017-0221R1, dated December 15, 2017 (which corresponds to FAA AD 2018-18-05, Amendment 39-19384 (83 FR 44463, August 31, 2018) (“AD 2018-18-05”)).

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2000-17-09, Amendment 39-11883 (65 FR 53897, September 6, 2000) (“AD 2000-17-09”); AD 2008-04-19 R1, Amendment 39-16069 (74 FR 56713, November 3, 2009) (“AD 2008-04-19 R1”); and AD 2015-26-09, Amendment 39-18357 (81 FR 1483, January 13, 2016) (“AD 2015-26-09”); for all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes only. The NPRM also proposed to terminate all requirements of AD 2018-18-05, which specified that accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (g) of that AD terminated all requirements of AD 2000-17-09; AD 2008-04-19 R1; and AD 2015-26-09; for ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes only. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2020 (85 FR 11876). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The NPRM proposed to revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in an EASA AD.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address reduced structural integrity of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov