Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22510 · Flight compartment equipment
Ipeco Pilot and Co-Pilot Seats
(1) This AD applies to:
(i) Ipeco Holdings Limited (Ipeco) pilot and co-pilot seats with a part number (P/N) listed in Paragraph 1.A., Planning Information, Tables 1 and 2, of Ipeco Service Bulletin (SB) Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated August 14, 2018, and
(ii) Ipeco pilot seat P/N 3A063-0099-01-1 and Ipeco co-pilot seat P/N 3A063-0100-01-1.
(2) These seats are installed on, but not limited to, ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional ATR 42 and ATR 72 airplanes.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-21- 06, which applied to certain Ipeco Holdings Limited (Ipeco) pilot and co-pilot seats. AD 2019-21-06 required modification and re- identification of the affected seats, initial and repetitive inspections of the affected track lock springs and, depending on the findings, replacement of the track lock springs with a part eligible for installation. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-21-06, the FAA determined the need for a mandatory terminating action to the track lock spring inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of track lock spring failures occurring on affected seats. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-21-06. This AD also adds a mandatory terminating action for the initial and repetitive inspections of the affected track lock springs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
This paragraph retains the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2019-21-06, with no changes.
(1) For seats that have not installed the track lock spring modification kit, within two years after December 12, 2017 (the effective date of AD 2017-22-02, Amendment 39-19082 (82 FR 51552, November 7, 2017)), modify and re-identify each affected pilot and co-pilot seat using the Accomplishment Instructions of Ipeco SB Number 063-25-08, Revision 00; Ipeco SB Number 063-25-09, Revision 00; or Ipeco SB Number 063-25-10, Revision 00; all dated May 31, 2016, as applicable to each affected seat.
(2) For all affected seats:
(i) Within 750 flight hours (FHs) after December 13, 2019 (the effective date of AD 2019-21-06), and, thereafter at intervals not to exceed 750 FHs, inspect the track lock spring of each seat in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.2, of Ipeco SB Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated August 14, 2018.
(ii) If, during any inspection as required by paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this AD, any damage on, or incorrect installation of, any track lock spring is found on the pilot or co-pilot seat, before further flight, replace both track lock springs of the affected seat with a part eligible for installation using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.3.3.1 or 3.3.3.2, as applicable, of Ipeco SB Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated August 14, 2018.
(3) Within 30 days after the initial and repetitive inspections, and thereafter for two years after December 13, 2019 (the effective date of AD 2019-21-06), send the inspection results, including no findings, to Ipeco at technicalsupport@ipeco.com.
As a mandatory terminating action to the inspections required by paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this AD, within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, or at the next Base Maintenance check, whichever occurs later, modify and re-identify each affected seat in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Ipeco SB Number 063-25-15, Issue 2; SB Number 063-25-16, Issue 2; SB Number 063-25-17, Issue 2; or SB Number 063-25-18, Issue 2; all dated March 8, 2022, as applicable to each affected seat.
After the effective date of this AD, do not install any pilot or co-pilot seat identified in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this AD unless the seat is modified and re-identified as specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
(1) For the purpose of this AD, “damage” includes cracks, breaks, corrosion, or deformation of the track lock spring.
(2) For the purpose of this AD, “incorrect installation” is an installed track lock spring that is at an angle or position different from the angle or position shown in Figures 6 and 7 of Ipeco SB Number 063-25-14, Revision 00, dated August 14, 2018.
(3) For the purpose of this AD, a “part eligible for installation” is:
(i) A modified seat provided, before installation, it has passed an inspection (no damage is found); and
(ii) A track lock spring provided that it passed an inspection (no damage is found).
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
Appliances and equipment
