AD 2020-24-06 Prompted By MCAI Originated By An Aviation Authority Of Another Country

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2019-08-13 for Textron Aviation, Inc., (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Models 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes with Tamarack Aerospace Group (Tamarack) active load alleviation system (ATLAS) winglets installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA03842NY.

AD 2019-08-13 was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as malfunction of the ATLAS. This AD results from the identification of corrective actions that, if implemented, allow operators to reactivate the ATLAS and restore operations to normal procedures. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 28, 2020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2019-08-13, Amendment 39-19634 (84 FR 24007, May 24, 2019) (AD 2019-08-13). AD 2019-08-13 applied to Textron Aviation, Inc., Models 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes with Tamarack ATLAS winglets installed in accordance with STC SA03842NY. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2020 (85 FR 33583).

AD 2019-08-13 prohibited all flight by revising the operating limitations in the airplane flight manual and fabricating and installing a placard, until a modification has been incorporated in accordance with an FAA-approved method. AD 2019-08-13 was based on MCAI originated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD No. 2019-0086-E, dated April 19, 2019, to address an unsafe condition related to reports of the ATLAS malfunctioning, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

The NPRM was prompted by EASA's revision to the MCAI. EASA issued AD No. 2019-0086R1, dated August 9, 2019, to require modifications previously developed by Cranfield Aerospace Solutions Limited (Cranfield), the holder of STC SA03842NY, to restore the safety of the ATLAS design and allow operators to reactivate the ATLAS. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require installing the modified Tamarack Active Camber Surface (TACS) control unit (TCU) and centering strips and revising the Tamarack maintenance manual supplement to include instructions for continued airworthiness relating to the centering strips. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0493.

FMI: www.regulations.gov