# AD 2000-23-26: Fatigue Cracking - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Historical - Products: ATR - GIE Avions de Transport Régional ATR72-101, ATR72-102, ATR72-201, ATR72-202, ATR72-211, ATR72-212 and ATR72-212A - Effective: January 2, 2001 - Published: November 28, 2000, 65 FR 70775–70777 - Issued: November 14, 2000 - Issued as: Final rule - Superseded by: [AD 2021-03-03](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2021-03-03) - Product type: Aircraft, Large airplane - Amendment: 39-11999 - Docket: 97-NM-273-AD - Registered aircraft: 32 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - Official PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/75/f8/75f897d18a5c3b7097a997410e6a214c2d110b0a177c0f4d79d77a04dc1ceb0b (from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2000-11-28/pdf/00-29607.pdf) - Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/11/28/00-29607/airworthiness-directives-aerospatiale-model-atr72-series-airplanes - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/23EA0FCEC59BEDB0862569FB0065E34A.0001 - DRS record last changed: August 7, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2000-23-26 ## Summary This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Aerospatiale Model ATR72 series airplanes, that requires a revision to the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structure, inspection intervals, and life limits for certain components. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure that fatigue cracking of certain structural elements is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes. ## The airworthiness directive ### Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows: 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: 2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2000-23-26 Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-11999. Docket 97-NM-273-AD. Applicability: All Model ATR72 series airplanes, certificated in any category. Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it. Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously. To ensure continued structural integrity of these airplanes, accomplish the following: ### (a) Airworthiness Limitations Revision (a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating the “Time Limits” section of the ATR72 Maintenance Planning Document, Revision 4, dated July 1999, into the Airworthiness Limitations Section. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD: After the actions specified in paragraph (a) of this AD have been accomplished, no alternative inspections or inspection intervals may be approved for the structural elements specified in the documents listed in paragraph (a) of this AD. ### (c) Alternative Methods of Compliance (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116. Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116. ### (d) Special Flight Permits (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. ### (e) Incorporation by Reference (e) The Airworthiness Limitations revision shall be done in accordance with the “Time Limits” section of the ATR72 Maintenance Planning Document, Revision 4, dated July 1999. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French airworthiness directive 95-105-026 (B), dated May 24, 1995. ### (f) Effective Date (f) This amendment becomes effective on January 2, 2001. ## Rule preamble ### Dates Effective January 2, 2001. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of January 2, 2001. ### Addresses The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. ### For further information contact Norman B. Martenson, Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149. ### SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Aerospatiale Model ATR72 series airplanes was published as a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on August 23, 2000 (65 FR 51260). That action proposed to require a revision to the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structure, inspection intervals, and life limits for certain components. ### Comments Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received in response to the supplemental NPRM. ### Conclusion After careful review of the available data, including the comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed. ### Cost Impact The FAA estimates that 39 Aerospatiale Model ATR72 series airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,340, or $60 per airplane. The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. ### Regulatory Impact The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a “significant rule” under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES. ## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A53EU](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A53EU): ATR – GIE Avions de Transport Régional; names 7 of 11 models: ATR72-202, ATR72-101, ATR72-212A, ATR72-212, ATR72-211, ATR72-102, ATR72-201 ## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs) Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment. - Aircraft: 32 (32 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Atr-Gie Avions De Trnsp Rgnl 14, Aerospatiale 9, Aerospatiale/Alenia 3, ATR 3, Aerospatiale/Atr 2, Aerospatiale/Aeritalia 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Atr-Gie Avions De Trnsp Rgnl ATR 72-212A](https://openairdocs.org/model/atr-gie-avions-de-trnsp-rgnl-atr-72-212a): 14 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerospatiale ATR 72-212](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-atr-72-212): 9 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR-72-212](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-alenia-atr-72-212): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [ATR ATR72-212A](https://openairdocs.org/model/atr-atr72-212a): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerospatiale/Atr ATR 72 202](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-atr-atr-72-202): 2 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aerospatiale/Aeritalia ATR72-212](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-aeritalia-atr72-212): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 6 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2000-23-26/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2000-23-26/aircraft.md ## Related documents - [AD 2021-03-03](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2021-03-03) (historical): Time Limits/Maintenance Checks · ATR - GIE Avions de Transport Régional ATR72-101, ATR72-102, ATR72-201 and 4 more. Effective Mar 31, 2021. Supersedes this AD - [Proposed rule 97-NM-273-AD](https://openairdocs.org/proposed/97-NM-273-AD): Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), published Aug 3, 1999 - [Proposed rule 97-NM-273-AD](https://openairdocs.org/proposed/97-NM-273-AD): Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period, published Aug 23, 2000 Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.