Stabilizers — Vertical Tail Plane Forward and Aft Fittings — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes must perform a one-time special detailed inspection of the specified vertical tail plane fittings within 6 months for Group 1 aircraft and within 12 months for Group 2 aircraft from the effective date of 11 July 2024. If improper materials are detected, repair or replacement must be completed before the next flight or before exceeding 39,249 flight cycles, depending on the material. Group 3 aircraft must replace affected parts before exceeding 39,249 flight cycles. Inspection results must be reported to ATR within 10 days after inspection.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0120 is an airworthiness directive addressing ATR 42 and ATR 72 aeroplanes, specifically certain manufacturer serial numbers equipped with vertical tail plane forward and aft fittings. The directive mandates inspection of these fittings due to a potential use of improper material during production, which could compromise structural integrity. The affected parts include specific fuselage to vertical tail plane fittings identified by part numbers S5537490120400, S5537490220400, S5537490320000, and S5537490420000.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a one-time special detailed inspection of the affected vertical tail plane fittings on specified ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes. It requires corrective actions if improper materials are found, including contacting ATR for repair instructions or replacing parts made of certain materials before reaching a specified flight cycle limit. The directive also provides compliance timelines based on aircraft grouping and allows credit for prior inspections performed under earlier service bulletin revisions.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the vertical tail plane on affected ATR aircraft, preventing potential safety risks due to material defects. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure timely inspections and corrective actions to comply with regulatory requirements and avoid grounding aircraft. Failure to comply could lead to unsafe conditions and regulatory penalties.
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