DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0661; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00737-Q;
Amendment 39-22510; AD 2023-14-10]
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) 2019-21-
06, which applied to certain Ipeco Holdings Limited (Ipeco) pilot and
co-pilot seats. AD 2019-21-06 required modification and re-
identification of the affected seats, initial and repetitive
inspections of the affected track lock springs and, depending on the
findings, replacement of the track lock springs with a part eligible
for installation. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-21-06, the FAA
determined the need for a mandatory terminating action to the track
lock spring inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of track lock
spring failures occurring on affected seats. This AD retains the
requirements of AD 2019-21-06. This AD also adds a mandatory
terminating action for the initial and repetitive inspections of the
affected track lock springs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 7, 2023.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 7, 2023.

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); and December 13,
2019 (84 FR 60325, November 8, 2019).

ADDRESSES:

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0661; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Ipeco Holdings Limited, Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, SS2 6UN,
United Kingdom; phone: +44 1702 545118; fax: +44 1702 540782; email:
technicalsupport@ipeco.com.

You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0661.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Kung, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (781)
238-7244; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2019-21-06, Amendment 39-19772 (84 FR
60325, November 8, 2019) (AD 2019-21-06). AD 2019-21-06 applied to
Ipeco pilot and co-pilot seats with a part number (P/N) listed in
Paragraph 1.A., Planning Information, Tables 1 and 2, of Ipeco Service
Bulletin (SB) Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated August 14, 2018, and
Ipeco pilot seat P/N 3A063-0099-01-1 and Ipeco co-pilot seat P/N 3A063-
0100-01-1. AD 2019-21-06 was prompted by an MCAI originated by the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued EASA AD 2018-
0262, dated December 6, 2018 (EASA AD 2018-0262), to correct an unsafe
condition identified as reports of track lock spring failures occurring
on affected seats, including those seats already modified by EASA AD
2016-0256, dated December 16, 2016 (EASA AD 2016-0256). AD 2019-21-06
required modification and re-identification of the affected seats,
initial and repetitive inspections of the affected track lock springs
and, depending on the findings, replacement of the track lock springs
with a part eligible for installation. The FAA issued AD 2019-21-06 to
prevent unexpected movement of pilot and co-pilot seats on takeoff and landing.

The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2023 (88 FR
21114). The NPRM was prompted by United Kingdom (UK) Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) AD G-2022-0011, dated June 9, 2022 (referred to after
this as the MCAI), issued by UK CAA, which is the aviation authority
for the UK. The MCAI states that occurrences of track lock spring
failures continued to be reported, including seats already modified, as
instructed by EASA AD 2016-0256. Consequently, the manufacturer
published revised service information, which specifies instructions for
inspection and replacement, if necessary, of affected track lock
springs; and EASA issued EASA AD 2018-0262 to supersede EASA AD 2016-
0256, which retained the modification and re-identification; and
introduced new instructions to inspect for damage and incorrect
installation of the track lock springs and, if necessary, replacement
of both track lock springs of the affected seat. The MCAI supersedes
EASA AD 2018-0262; removes the previous instructions for modification
and re-identification; retains the inspection for damage and incorrect
installation of the track lock springs; and introduces new instructions
for replacement of the affected track lock springs and lever, and
installation of a track lock lever control placard (modification and
re-identification) as terminating action.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0661.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to retain all of the requirements of
AD 2019-21-06. The FAA also proposed to add a mandatory terminating
action (modification and re-identification of each affected seat) for
the initial and repetitive inspections of the affected track lock
springs. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent unexpected movement of
pilot and co-pilot seats on takeoff and landing.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs.

Conclusion

These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed.
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products. Except for minor editorial changes this AD is
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Ipeco SB Number 063-25-15, Issue 2; SB Number 063-
25-16, Issue 2; SB Number 063-25-17, Issue 2; and SB Number 063-25-18,
Issue 2; all dated March 8, 2022. These SBs provide instructions for
removal and replacement of the track lock levers and springs and
installation of a track lock lever control placard.

This AD also requires Ipeco 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, which the Director of the Federal Register
approved for incorporation by reference as of December 12, 2017 (82 FR
51552, November 7, 2017).

This AD also requires Ipeco SB Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated
August 14, 2018, which the Director of the Federal Register approved
for incorporation by reference as of December 13, 2019 (84 FR 60325,
November 8, 2019).

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 ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 120 pilot and co-pilot seats
installed on, but not limited to, 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 require modification and inspection.

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 agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need these replacements:

On-Condition Costs

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.

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, and 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.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA has 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) 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.

The Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2019-21-06, Amendment 39-19772 (84
FR 60325, November 8, 2019); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: