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AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-25-07, which applied to certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 and EMB-545 airplanes. AD 2020-25-07 required repetitive inspections of the flight deck side windows for any cracking or delamination, corrective action if necessary, and eventual replacement of the windows. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-25-07, additional part numbers were added to the installation prohibition list. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-25-07, expands the list of affected parts, and prohibits the installation of affected parts, as specified in an Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective October 30, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 30, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1304; 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 ANAC material identified in this AD, contact National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), Aeronautical Products Certification Branch (GGCP), Rua Dr. Orlando Feirabend Filho, 230—Centro Empresarial Aquarius—Torre B—Andares 14 a 18, Parque Residencial Aquarius, CEP 12.246-190—São José dos Campos—SP, Brazil; telephone 55 (12) 3203-6600; emailpac@anac.gov.br; website anac.gov.br/en/. You may find this material on the ANAC website sistemas.anac.gov.br/certificacao/DA/DAE.asp.
- You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available atregulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1304.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hassan Ibrahim, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206-231-3653; email Hassan.M.Ibrahim@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2020-25-07, Amendment 39-21349 (85 FR 81385, December 16, 2020) (AD 2020-25-07). AD 2020-25-07 applied to certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 and EMB-545 airplanes. AD 2020-25-07 required repetitive inspections of the flight deck side windows for any cracking or delamination, corrective action if necessary, and eventual replacement of the windows. The FAA issued AD 2020-25-07 to address cracks and delamination, which could cause the flight deck side windows to fail and lead to an in-flight depressurization event.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2024 (89 FR 43336). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2020-04-01R02, effective November 2, 2023, issued by ANAC, which is the aviation authority for Brazil (ANAC AD 2020-04-01R02) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that part number (P/N) NP-200402-7 and P/N NP-200402-8, made mandatory by the previous revisions of the MCAI, have not had the expected effect on the fleet as premature cracks in the outer layer of windows with P/N NP-200402-7 and P/N NP-200402-8 have been found. These cracks may be undetected, and the inner layer may be subjected to unpredicted loads for several flights, which could result in window failure and subsequent in-flight depressurization events.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions in AD 2020-25-07, expand the list of affected parts, and prohibit the installation of affected parts, as specified in ANAC AD 2020-04-01R02. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1304.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.
Additional Changes Made to This AD
The FAA revised paragraph (h)(5) of this AD to clarify that the 50 flight cycle grace period is “within 50 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.” In the proposed AD, the FAA inadvertently omitted the wording “after the effective date of this AD.”
After the FAA issued the proposed AD, ANAC issued an Errata to ANAC AD 2020-04-01R02, effective November 2, 2023, to clarify the actions if an inspection is done and delamination or other damage which does not impact the ability to properly perform the inspection is found. As originally written, operators could have concluded a windshield needed to be replaced even if the only inspection finding was delamination in an area that did not impede the inspection. The FAA has revised paragraph (h)(3) of this AD to clarify the action for this condition.
Conclusion
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country and is 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 this product. Except for minor editorial changes, and any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
ANAC AD 2020-04-01R02 specifies procedures for initial and repetitive detailed inspections of the left-hand flight deck side window P/N NP-200402-1 or P/N NP-200402-5 and right-hand flight deck side window P/N NP-200402-2 or P/N NP-200402-6 to detect cracks, delamination, or any other damage (such as scratches, chipping, erosion, and crazing), and replacement of the windows with a new window P/N NP-200402-9 or P/N NP-200402-10, as applicable. ANAC AD 2020-04-01R02 also prohibits the installation of flight deck side windows with P/N NP-200402-1, P/N NP-200402-2, P/N NP-200402-5, P/N NP-200402-6, P/N NP-200402-7, and P/N NP-200402-8, on any airplane.
This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 44 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retained actions from AD 2020-25-07 | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 per inspection cycle | $0 | $85 per inspection cycle | $3,740 per inspection cycle. |
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
| Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per window |
|---|---|---|
| 15 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,275 | $21,636 | $22,911 |