AD 2000-13-02 Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-135 and EMB-145 Series Airplanes

Models named: EMB-135, EMB-145 series. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

Model EMB-135 and EMB-145 series airplanes; serial numbers 145095, 145099, 145179, 145189, 145197, 145198, 145209 through 145244 inclusive, and 145246 through 145249 inclusive; AND serial numbers 145004 through 145094 inclusive, 145096 through 145098 inclusive, 145100 through 145103 inclusive, 145105 through 145121 inclusive, 145123 through 145139 inclusive, 145141 through 145153 inclusive, 145155 through 145178 inclusive, 145180 through 145188 inclusive, 145190 through 145196 inclusive, and 145199 through 145208 inclusive, on which EMBRAER Service Bulletin No. 145-36-0017, dated March 28, 2000, has been accomplished; certificated in any category. Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously. To prevent incorrect operation of the precooler differential pressure switches, which could result in inappropriate automatic shutoff of the engine bleed valve, and consequent inability to perform engine cross-bleed restarts or possible failure of the anti-ice system; and to ensure that the flight crew is advised of proper procedures to restart an engine using the auxiliary power unit; accomplish the following: Revision to Airplane Flight Manual: Limitations Section (a) Within 24 hours after the effective date of this AD, revise the Limitations section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include the following statements. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM. Following accomplishment of paragraph (c) of this AD, the revisions required by this paragraph may be removed from the AFM. “THE APU MUST BE OPERATIVE FOR EVERY DEPARTURE. SINGLE BLEED OPERATION IN ICING CONDITIONS IS PROHIBITED.” Revision to Airplane Flight Manual: Abnormal Procedures Section (b) Within 24 hours after the effective date of this AD, replace the existing “ENGINE AIRSTART” procedure in the Abnormal Procedures section of the AFM with the following procedures. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM. “ENGINE AIRSTART       Affected engine: One Electric Fuel Pump (A or B) ON Ignition AUTO Start/Stop Selector STOP Engine Bleed CLOSE Thrust Lever IDLE Airspeed and Altitude REFER TO AIRSTART ENVELOPE Perform an assisted start or windmilling, as required. CAUTION: IN ICING CONDITIONS USE CROSSBLEED START ONLY, TO AVOID LOSS OF ANTI-ICE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.       Assisted Start: Crossbleed Start: N2 (operating engine) ABOVE 80% Crossbleed AUTO OR OPEN Engine Bleed (operating engine) OPEN APU bleed start: APU START APU Bleed OPEN Crossbleed AUTO Engine Bleed (operating engine) CLOSE       Start/Stop Selector START, THEN RUN Engine Indication MONITOR Check ITT and N2 rising. Observe limits. Check ignition and fuel flow indication at 10% N2.       Windmilling Start: Airspeed ABOVE 260 KIAS Minimum N2 12% Start/Stop Selector START, THEN RUN ITT and N2 MONITOR Note: Windmilling start will be slower than an assisted start. Windmilling start with N2 above 30% and increasing, the loss of altitude may be minimized, by reducing airspeed. Start will be faster if ITT is below 320°C.       After Start: Affected Engine Bleed AS REQUIRED Crossbleed AUTO APU Bleed AS REQUIRED” Disconnection of the Precooler Differential Pressure Switches (c) Within 100 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, disconnect the electrical connector from the precooler differential pressure switches in the left and right engine pylons, in accordance with EMBRAER Alert Service Bulletin No. 145-36-A018, dated April 14, 2000. Following accomplishment of this paragraph, the AFM revision required by paragraph (a) of this AD may be removed from the AFM. Alternative Methods of Compliance (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, Small Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO. Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Atlanta ACO. Special Flight Permits (e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. Incorporation by Reference (f) The disconnection of the precooler differential pressure switches shall be done in accordance with EMBRAER Alert Service Bulletin No. 145-36-A018, dated April 14, 2000. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343—CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos—SP, Brazil. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Brazilian airworthiness directive 2000-04-01R1, dated May 3, 2000. Effective Date (g) This amendment becomes effective on July 3, 2000. Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 20, 2000. Donald L. Riggin, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 00-16110 Filed 6-26-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U