DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0260; Product Identifier 2017-NE-13-AD; Amendment
39-19772; AD 2019-21-06]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Ipeco Pilot and Co-Pilot Seats

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-22-02
for certain Ipeco Holdings Limited (Ipeco) pilot and co-pilot seats. AD
2017-22-02 required modification and re-identification of the affected
seats. This AD continues to require modification and re-identification
of the affected seats. This AD also requires initial and repetitive
inspections of the affected tracklock springs and, depending on the
findings, replacement of the tracklock springs with a part eligible for
installation. This AD was prompted by reports that the tracklock spring
modification required by AD 2017-22-02 does not adequately address the
issue of unexpected seat movement during takeoff and landing and the
need to add additional seat part numbers (P/Ns) to the applicability.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 13, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 13,
2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of
December 12, 2017 (82 FR 51552, November 7, 2017).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Ipeco Holdings Limited, Aviation Way, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6UN,
United Kingdom; phone: 44 1702 549371; fax: 44 1702 540782; email:
sales@Ipeco.com. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also available on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2019-0260.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0260; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI),
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The address for Docket Operations is Document Operations, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Doh, Aerospace Engineer, Boston
ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
781-238-7757; fax: 781-238-7199; email: neil.doh@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2017-22-02, Amendment 39-19082 (82 FR
51552, November 7, 2017), (``AD 2017-22-02''). AD 2017-22-02 applied to
certain Ipeco pilot and co-pilot seats. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on July 19, 2019 (84 FR 34816). The NPRM was prompted
by reports of tracklock spring failures occurring on affected seats,
including those seats already modified by AD 2017-22-02. The NPRM
proposed to retain all the requirements of AD 2017-22-02 and add
additional seat P/Ns to the applicability. The NPRM also proposed to
require initial and repetitive inspections of the affected tracklock
springs and, depending on the findings, replacement of the tracklock
springs with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD 2018-0262, dated December 6, 2018, (referred to after
this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these
products. The MCAI states:

Occurrences have been reported of pilot/co-pilot unexpected
rearward movement during take-off and landing. Investigations
determined that horizontal guide block wear, presence of burrs on
horizontal centre track and horizontal track lock system weakness
(spring tension too low) were causes which contributed to the seat
not being correctly locked.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further cases of
unwanted flight crew seat movement, possibly resulting in reduced
control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, IPECO improved the
quality control on the final assembly line and issued the applicable
modification SB, providing modification instructions, and EASA
issued AD 2016-0256, requiring modification of pre-mod seats and
subsequent re-identification with a new P/N.
Since that AD was issued, occurrences of track lock spring
failures have been reported on affected seats (including seats
already modified as required by EASA AD 2016-0256). Consequently,
IPECO published the inspection SB, providing applicable instructions
to inspect and replace, if necessary, any affected spring of each
affected seat.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2016-0256, which is superseded, and requires
repetitive inspection of seats and, depending on findings,
replacement of affected springs and reporting to IPECO.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0260.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this AD. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these minor
changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Ipeco Service Bulletin (SB) Number 063-25-08,
Revision 00; SB Number 063-25-09, Revision 00; and SB Number 063-25-10,
Revision 00; all dated May 31, 2016. The SBs provide instructions,
differentiated by the part numbers of the affected pilot and co-pilot
seats, for the modification and re-identification of these seats. The
FAA also reviewed Ipeco SB Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated August
14, 2018. This SB provides instructions for inspection and replacement,
if necessary, of affected tracklock springs. 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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 110 pilot and co-pilot seats
installed on, but not limited to, ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional
(ATR) 42 and ATR 72 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that
seats installed on 34 ATR 42 airplanes and seats installed on 21 ATR 72
airplanes will require modification and inspection. The FAA revised the
estimated number of affected seats in this cost estimate to include two
affected seats per airplane.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need these replacements:

On-Condition Costs

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in our cost
estimate.

Paperwork Reduction Act

A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of
information. All responses to this collection of information are
mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX
76177-1524.

Authority for This Rulemaking

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.
The FAA is 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 engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

Regulatory Findings

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-22-02, Amendment 39-19082 (82 FR 51552, November 7, 2017), and
adding the following new AD: