AD 2022-05-09 Requires Removing Emergency Parachutes With Certain Manufacture Dates Or Serial Numbers From Service

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MARS A.S. emergency parachutes.

This AD results from 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 identifies the unsafe condition as the length of the ripcord between the pins being too long, which could cause a malfunction of the emergency parachute. This AD requires removing emergency parachutes with certain manufacture dates or serial numbers from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective March 14, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA Emergency AD 2022-0018-E, dated January 28, 2022 (referred to after this as the MCAI), to address an unsafe condition on certain MARS A.S. ATL-88/90-1B (commercially known as ATL-15 SL) emergency parachutes.

The MCAI states:

• During the yearly inspection of one of the affected emergency parachutes, it has been found that the length of the ripcord between the pins was too large and, in some cases, only one of 2 loops of the parachute could be opened when the manual ripcord was pulled. Subsequent inspection revealed that the dimensions of the static line extension were out of production tolerances. It is expected that the manufacturer will develop a modification to restore the airworthiness of affected emergency parachutes.
• This condition, if not corrected, could cause a malfunction of the emergency parachute.
• To address this unsafe condition EASA issued Emergency AD 2022-0017-E to require removal from service of the affected emergency parachutes.
• Since that [EASA] AD was issued, it was determined that the Applicability of that [EASA] AD was incorrect.
• For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA Emergency AD 2022-0017-E, which is superseded, but with a different Applicability.
• This [EASA] AD is considered to be an interim measure and further [EASA] AD action may follow.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0149.

FMI: www.regulations.gov