FAA updates maintenance rules for certain ATR 72 airplanes
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This rule requires operators of certain ATR 72 airplanes to update their maintenance or inspection programs with new, more restrictive airworthiness limits. The goal is to reduce two safety risks: a cargo fire could spread if air conditioning shut-off valves fail, and high-speed rudder movement could lead to loss of control. It applies to specific ATR72 models on the U.S. registry and mostly means a paperwork-and-program update rather than a parts replacement. Operators must make the required program changes within 90 days after the rule takes effect, and the FAA estimates the cost at about $7,650 per operator.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Requires updated maintenance or inspection program revisions for covered ATR 72 airplanes
- Adopts EASA AD 2025-0006 with FAA-specific exceptions and a 90-day compliance deadline
- Adds new airworthiness limits tied to rudder travel limiter checks and air conditioning shut-off valve tests
Obligations
What this law requires
Operators of affected ATR72 airplanes must revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations required by EASA AD 2025-0006, as modified by this FAA AD.
Operators of applicable ATR72 airplanes must revise the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations specified in EASA AD 2025-0006.
For the revised program, operators must comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in EASA AD 2025-0006, except for the expressly listed FAA exceptions.
For Model ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211, -212, and -212A airplanes, the maintenance or inspection program must include operational tests of the rudder travel limiter unit as required by the incorporated EASA airworthiness limitations.
Operators must use ATR 72 Time Limits Document Temporary Revision 22.1 for all affected airplanes and Temporary Revision 22.9 only for Model ATR72-212 and ATR72-212A airplanes, as required by this AD’s incorporation-by-reference instructions.