Addresses Discrepancies Found On Electrical Wiring Terminations At The Receptacles Of Certain Pitot Relays

The FAA has released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) following reports of discrepancies found on electrical wiring terminations at the receptacles of certain pitot relays on Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (Embraer) Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, and -135LR airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145-MR, -145-LR, -145-XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes.

FAA AD 2007-04-03, 39-14934 (ANAC AD 2005-08-04R1), and FAA AD 2008-22-19, 39-15716 (ANAC AD 2007-11-04R1), were issued to require inspecting the pitot heating relays and the direct-vision windowsill drain hoses, and to replace certain socket contacts with new, improved parts. AD 2007-04-03 also requires re-routing and replacing the direct-vision windowsill drain hoses in the area near the relay boxes with new, improved hoses.

After issuance of those ADs, the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), which is the aviation authority for Brazil, issued Brazilian Special Airworthiness Bulletin (BEA) 2017-03, dated December 20, 2017, to address degradation (heat damage and discoloration), insulation dryness, and cracking of electrical wiring terminations at the receptacles of the Pitot #1, Pitot #2, Pitot #3, TAT #1 and TAT #2 relays. Since BEA 2017-03 was issued, several cases of inadequate installation, chafing, and heat damage on the wiring terminations at the receptacle of the Pitot #3 relay have been found.

In light of this data, ANAC issued BEA 2019-02, dated April 25, 2019, to inform operators of a new maintenance task and of discrepancies found on the electrical wiring terminations at the receptacles of the Pitot #1, Pitot #2, Pitot #3, TAT #1 and TAT #2 relays. ANAC also issued BEA 2019-04 R1, dated October 14, 2019, to provide that information for EMB-135BJ airplanes.

The FAA recommends that all owners and operators of the Embraer airplanes identified above
incorporate the normal maintenance actions outlined in the following service information, at the
earliest opportunity:
For EMB-135BJ (Legacy 600) airplanes: Maintenance Planning Guidance 1483, Revision 14, dated June 24, 2019, Task 53-Z223-214-001-A00 (EMB145 Aircraft Maintenance Manual 1342, Revision 56, dated April 26, 2019, Task 05-20-13-200-803-A).
For EMB-135BJ (Legacy 650) airplanes: Maintenance Planning Guide 1483, Revision 14, dated June 24, 2019, Task 20-00-00-220-011-A00 (EMB145 Aircraft Maintenance Manual 3721, Revision 31, dated April 26, 2019, 2019, Task 05-40-13-200-801-A).
For EMB-145 and EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, and -135LR airplanes: Maintenance Review Board Report 1150, Revision 20, dated June 28, 2019, Task 20-00-00-220-014-A00 (EMB145 Aircraft Maintenance Manual 1186, Revision 64, dated June 28, 2019, Task 05-40-13-200-802-A).

These tasks provide normal maintenance procedures for inspecting electrical wiring terminations at the receptacles of the Pitot #1, Pitot #2, Pitot #3, TAT #1, and TAT #2 relays for signs of damage, adequate installation, chafing, and general condition.

The FAA requests that owners and operators submit a Service Difficulties Report (SDR) to Embraer and the FAA (as identified below) if any discrepancy is found. Please use Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 3030. Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection contained in this SAIB, and assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0731.

FMI: SAIB