AD 2018-17-07

This AD is effective September 4, 2018.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 4, 2018.

We must receive comments on this AD by October 1, 2018.

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: 202-493-2251.

• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations,M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations,M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact ATR—GIE Avions de Transport Régional, 1 Allée Pierre Nadot, 31712 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 (0) 5 62 21 62 21; fax +33 (0) 5 62 21 67 18; email continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com; http://www.atr-aircraft.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0712.

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-321-3220.

We issued AD 2017-24-01, Amendment 39-19105 (82 FR 55755, November 24, 2017) (“AD 2017-24-01”), which applied to certain Model ATR42-500 airplanes and Model ATR72-212A airplanes. AD 2017-24-01 was prompted by reports of electrical harness bundle chafing with a window blinding panel in the fuselage due to missing routing attachments. AD 2017-24-01 required an inspection for routing attachments ( i.e., brackets) of electrical harness bundles and for wire damage, and corrective actions if necessary. We issued AD 2017-24-01 to detect and correct missing routing attachments of fuselage electrical harness bundles, which could result in wire failure (cut or shorted) and, in case of several failures in combination, the loss of systems, possibly resulting in reduced control of the airplane.

Since we issued AD 2017-24-01, we have determined that additional airplanes are affected by the unsafe condition.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0105, dated May 08, 2018 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Model ATR42-500 airplanes and Model ATR72-212A airplanes. The MCAI states:

An event was reported of several spurious alarms on a recently delivered ATR 72 aeroplane. During subsequent trouble-shooting, damage was found on the electrical harness wire bundle (Route 1M), due to chafing with a window blinding panel located on the left-hand (LH) side of the fuselage, zone 231. A bracket, necessary to maintain the harness wire bundle close to the structure of the fuselage and avoid chafing, was missing. The same bracket was also found missing on the right-hand (RH) side of the fuselage, zone 232, Route 2M, although without damage on the harness wire bundle. A quality investigation revealed another aeroplane on the production line where same brackets were not installed.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to wire failure (cut or shorted) and, in case of several failures in combination, to loss of systems, possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, ATR published the applicable SB [service bulletin] to provide inspection instructions. Consequently, EASA issued AD 2017-0118 [which corresponds to FAA AD 2017-24-01] to require verification of the installation of the brackets, a one-time inspection of the wire bundles, and depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, an occurrence was reported of engine intermittent auto-feather, caused by damage on the electrical harness bundle Route 1M. The affected aeroplane MSN [manufacturer serial number] was not identified in the Applicability of EASA AD 2017-0118.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA AD 2017-0118, which is superseded, and expands the Applicability to include additional aeroplanes, identified by MSN in Group 2 as specified in section `Definitions' of this [EASA] AD.

The MCAI includes MSNs 1071, 1141, 1341, 1367, and 1377 in its applicability, but those MSNs are not identified in the definitions for the affected groups. Those MSNs are not affected by the identified unsafe condition. Therefore, we have not included those MSNs in our applicability. You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0712.

ATR has issued Service Bulletin ATR42-92-0033, Revision 02, dated April 12, 2018; and Service Bulletin ATR72-92-1044, Revision 02, dated April 12, 2018. This service information describes procedures for an inspection of routing attachments ( i.e., brackets) of electrical harness bundles and for wire damage, and corrective actions if necessary. These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane models. This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

There are currently no domestic operators of this product. Therefore, we good cause find that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and that, for the same reason, good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2018-0712; Product Identifier 2018-NM-089-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this AD.

Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. If an affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the future, we provide the following cost estimates to comply with this AD:

We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: “General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and

4. 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD) 2017-24-01, Amendment 39-19105 (82 FR 55755, November 24, 2017), and adding the following new AD: