Transportation Department Docket FAA-2014-0059 Proposed Rule

2016-21145: Airworthiness Directives; Embraer S.A. Airplanes

Comment Period Closed

Public comment closed .

Get alerted when the next rule lands

New rules open for comment on their own schedule. Pick how you want to hear about them — we email you when one appears.

Alert me on new Transportation Department rules or alert me on a subject

Publishing to members? Embed a live rule tracker on your own site — the proposed rules in your area and the comment deadlines closing on them, updating themselves. Free, one line of HTML.

Create a free account & build one →

Summary

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 airplanes. The NPRM proposed to supersede AD 2012-07-08, which requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate structural inspection requirements. The NPRM was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. Since the NPRM was issued, a new revision of the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the EMBRAER S.A. ERJ 170/175 Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR) was issued, which contains more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This action revises the NPRM by proposing to require revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the new ALS of the MRBR. This supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) would also remove certain airplanes from the applicability. In addition, we propose to supersede AD 2006-06-09, AD 2012-05-08, and AD 2012-07-08, which require tasks that are now included in the new revision of the MRBR. We are proposing this SNPRM to detect and correct fatigue cracking of various principal structural elements; such cracking could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. We are also proposing this SNPRM to prevent safety-significant latent failures; such failures, in combination with one or more other specified failures or events, could result in a hazardous or catastrophic failure condition of avionics, hydraulic systems, fire detection systems, fuel systems, or other critical systems. In addition, we are also proposing this SNPRM to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions; such failures, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane. Since these actions impose an additional burden over those proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

Don't miss the comment window

One Click Politics alerts you on every deadline, hearing, and rule change.

See all rules with comments due soon →