# 2026-16657: FAA Expands Airplane Rib Inspections for More ATR Models Worldwide

2026-16657, Airworthiness Directives; ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Airplanes, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-08-14, effective 2026-09-18; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16657
- As of: 2026-08-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16657
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Airplanes
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 52484
- Published: 2026-08-14
- Effective: 2026-09-18
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-08-21

## In one line

FAA Expands Airplane Rib Inspections for More ATR Models Worldwide

## Summary

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-21- 10, which applied to certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes. AD 2023-21-10 required an inspection of the horizontal stabilizer (HS) left- and right-hand leading edge lateral ribs, the box in between, the center box upper panel, and HS forward back-up fitting for discrepancies and applicable corrective action. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-21-10, it was determined that additional airplanes are affected and additional areas must be inspected. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2023-21-10 and requires expanding the applicability and inspecting the HS front spar web and center box internal area for discrepancies and accomplishing applicable corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Expanded HS Inspection Requirement: cost, high. If you operate affected ATR42-500 or ATR72-212A airplanes, this AD (effective September 18, 2026) continues prior inspections and adds inspections of the horizontal stabilizer front spar web and center box internal area. The FAA estimates the AD affects 16 U.S.-registered airplanes and lists inspec…
- Crack Findings Require Repair Before Flight: cost, medium. If an inspection finds any crack in the horizontal stabilizer, the AD requires the crack be repaired before further flight using a method approved by the FAA International Validation Branch manager, EASA, or ATR's EASA Design Organization Approval. For other discrepancies, operators must contact AT…
- No Reporting to Manufacturer Required: benefit, low. Unlike the referenced EASA AD, this FAA AD does not include the requirement to submit certain information to the manufacturer after inspections. Operators therefore are not required by this AD to provide that post-inspection reporting.

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## Sources
- [2026-16657 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/14/2026-16657/airworthiness-directives-atr-gie-avions-de-transport-rgional-airplanes)
- [2026-16657 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-14/pdf/2026-16657.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16655, Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Engines](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16655)
- [Next: 2026-16659, Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16659)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16657 (as of 2026-08-21).