AD 2007-07-10 Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model ERJ 170 Airplanes

Models named: ERJ 170-100 LR, -100 STD, -100 SE, -100 SU, -200 LR, -200 STD, -200 SU. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to EMBRAER Model ERJ 170-100 LR, -100 STD, -100 SE, -100 SU, -200 LR, -200 STD, and -200 SU airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in EMBRAER Service Bulletin 170-25-0024, Revision 01, dated January 9, 2006.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Replacement of Mini-Latches on Certain Lavatory Waste Compartment Doors (f) Within 700 flight hours after the effective date of this AD: Replace the mini-latches for the forward and aft lavatory waste compartment doors by accomplishing all the actions, except for the forward and aft lavatory mirror rework, specified in paragraphs 3.B. and 3.G. of paragraph 4., “Appendix 1,” of EMBRAER Service Bulletin 170-25-0024, Revision 01, dated January 9, 2006. Note 1: EMBRAER Service Bulletin 170-25-0024, Revision 01, dated January 9, 2006, refers to C & D Aerospace Service Bulletin 170-18616-25-023, Revision 1, dated November 29, 2005, as an additional source of service information for replacing the mini-latches on certain lavatory waste compartment doors required by paragraph (f) of this AD. Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Issue of Service Information (g) Replacements done before the effective date of this AD in accordance with paragraphs 3.B. and 3.G. of paragraph 4., “Appendix 1,” of EMBRAER Service Bulletin 170-25-0024, dated July 21, 2005, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding action specified in this AD. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (h)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office. Related Information (i) Brazilian airworthiness directive 2005-11-01, effective December 8, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (j) You must use EMBRAER Service Bulletin 170-25-0024, Revision 01, dated January 9, 2006, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343—CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos—SP, Brazil, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html . Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 22, 2007. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E7-5885 Filed 4-2-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from reports of certain lavatory waste compartment doors opening during flight due to movement of the waste compartment during takeoff, because the mini-latches installed on those doors lose their strength over time. We are issuing this AD to prevent the inability of the waste compartment doors to adequately contain a fire inside the lavatory waste compartment, and consequent uncontained fire and smoke within a lavatory during flight.