FAA Orders Tail Inspections for ATR Planes' Safety
Published Date: 2/18/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly or work with certain ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A planes, listen up! The FAA wants to check some tail parts because they might be made from the wrong material. This means inspections, reports, and maybe part swaps soon to keep everyone safe—so get ready to act and keep those planes flying right!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
Mandatory part replacement for some airplanes
For certain ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes, the FAA proposes that affected fuselage-to-VTP fittings must be replaced rather than just inspected or repaired, per the EASA AD the FAA intends to incorporate by reference. That replacement requirement would apply to the specific airplanes listed in the referenced AD.
Inspect tail fittings for wrong material
If you operate or work on ATR42-500 or ATR72-212A airplanes, the FAA proposes inspections of the fuselage-to-vertical-tail-plane (VTP) fittings to check whether the fittings were made from improper material. The inspections follow the procedures in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD that the FAA proposes to incorporate by reference.
Corrective actions if improper material found
If inspections find that VTP fittings were made from improper material on affected ATR42-500 or ATR72-212A airplanes, the proposed AD would require corrective actions as specified in the referenced EASA AD. Corrective actions could include repairs or other mandated fixes to address the unsafe condition.
Require inspection reporting to authorities
The proposed rule would require operators to submit an inspection report after checking the material of the affected fuselage-to-VTP fittings for the specified ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes. The reporting requirement references the EASA AD procedures that the FAA plans to incorporate by reference.
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