EASA SIB NM-13-01: Large (JAR/FAR/CS 25) Aeroplanes — Discrepant Windows and Windshields

What to do

Owners and operators of transport category airplanes should review maintenance records for any transparencies with FAA Form 8130-3 approved by ATR, TEG Transparencies Engineering Group, ATG Aerospace Transparencies Group, or AV Tronics (Florida) dated from January 2007 onward. Any suspect transparencies should be removed from service, inspected, overhauled, or scrapped as necessary. Findings should be reported to the FAA contact provided in the bulletin. No specific compliance deadline is stated.

Summary

The FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin SAIB: NM-13-01 addresses airworthiness concerns related to discrepant windows and windshields repaired by Aircraft Transparencies Repair (ATR) and related companies on large transport category airplanes. The bulletin highlights issues with repairs performed between January 2007 and the present, affecting windshields, cockpit side windows, passenger windows, and wingtip lenses. No specific aircraft models or part numbers are listed, but affected parts can be identified through maintenance records showing FAA Form 8130-3 approvals by ATR or associated entities.

What changed

This bulletin introduces an advisory regarding the discovery of improperly repaired windows and windshields by ATR and related companies, including falsified maintenance records and substandard repair quality. It revokes the ATR repair station certificate and warns operators about potentially unsafe transparencies without issuing a mandatory airworthiness directive. The FAA recommends removal and inspection of suspect transparencies but does not mandate regulatory action under 14 CFR part 39.

Why it matters

This information is critical for aviation professionals because it identifies a potential safety risk from compromised window and windshield repairs that could affect aircraft structural integrity and safety. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams need to be aware of the suspect parts to ensure proper inspection and removal, preventing possible in-service failures. Understanding the scope of affected parts helps maintain airworthiness and regulatory compliance.