AD 2006-04-02

(a) This AD becomes effective March 31, 2006.

(b) None.

(c) This AD applies to all EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, and -135LR airplanes; and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes; certificated in any category.

(d) This AD results from a report of a burning drain hose and smoke caused by an overheated pitot static heating relay. We are issuing this AD to prevent overheating of a certain pitot static heating relay, which could result in the burning of the windowsill drain hoses and consequent smoke or fire in the airplane cockpit.

(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

(f) The term “service bulletin,” as used in this AD, means the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletins identified in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable:

(g) Within 600 flight hours or 180 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first: Do a general visual inspection of pitot static heating relay K0057 for damage to the pin-type contacts, relay enclosure, and finishing material, and do the corrective action as applicable, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the applicable service bulletin; except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. The corrective actions must be done before further flight. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours, until the terminating modification required by paragraph (i) of this AD is accomplished.

Note 1:

For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is: “A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.”

(h) Although EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-30-0042, dated April 18, 2005, and EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145LEG-30-0012, dated April 18, 2005, specify contacting the manufacturer if damage to components for the relay support is found and also specify returning any relay that fails an inspection to the airplane manufacturer, this AD does not include those requirements.

(i) Within 6,000 flight hours or 30 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first: Do the applicable actions specified in paragraphs (i)(1), (i)(2), and (i)(3) of this AD. Accomplishing all the applicable actions specified in this paragraph terminates the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(1) For all airplanes, replace the direct-vision windowsill drain hoses having part number (P/N) 123-15435-401 and -403 with new, improved hoses having P/N 145-13044-001 and P/N 145-13047-001, as applicable, and replace the tiedown straps with new tiedown straps, in accordance with Figure 1 of the service bulletin.

(2) For all airplanes, rework the drain hose having P/N 123-15435-405, in accordance with Figure 1 of the service bulletin.

(3) For Model EMB-135BJ airplanes, reroute the drain hoses of the left and right cockpit horizontal linings, in accordance with Figure 2 of the service bulletin.

(j)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office.

(k) Brazilian airworthiness directive 2005-08-04, effective September 5, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

(l) You must use the service documents identified in Table 2 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343—CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos—SP, Brazil, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.