AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

CAA-AD-020/2002

Date of issue: February 14, 2002

AIRCRAFT - THERMAL/ACOUSTICAL INSULATION MATERIALS (ATA 25) - REPLACEMENT

Applicability: ATR 72 -102, -202, -212 and -212A aircraft models on which:

- at least one of modifications 3890 or 4204 has been embodied

but

- none of ATR modifications 5117 or 5322 (Service Bulletin (SB) ATR 72-25-1074) has been embodied.

Effective date: April 18, 2002

Compliance: Required as indicated in DGAC AD 2002-043-065(B).

Remarks: The compliance of this AD must be recorded in Aircraft Logbook, where applicable the requirements of this AD must be integrated into Aircraft Technical Documentation. Address inquiries concerning this AD to: Civil Aviation Authority, Airworthiness Division, Ruzyne Airport, 160 08 Prague 6, Czech Republic, tel.: 420 2 33320922, fax: 420 2 20562270.

Ing. Pavel MATOUŠEK

Director of Airworthiness Division

CAA CZ

DGAC AD No.: 2002-043-065(B)

ATR

ATR 72 aircraft

Thermal/acoustical insulation materials (ATA 25)

1. APPLICABILITV:

ATR 72 -102, -202, -212 and -212A aircraft models on which:

- at least one of modifications 3890 or 4204 has been embodied

but

- none of ATR modifications 5117 or 5322 (Service Bulletin (SB) ATR 72-25-1074) has been embodied.

2. REASONS:

After some incidents initiated by electrical short circuit behind side wall, in which the flammability characteristics of thermal/acoustical insulation material made from metallized polyethyleneteraphthalate (MPET) may have been a contributing factor, the Certification Authority decided to improve flammability standards for thermal/acoustical insulation materials.

As consequence, new requirements have been created and the MPET (also called metallized MYLAR) shall be replaced on ell aeroplanes.

Although some ATR aeroplanes are equipped with MPET and that no incident was never experienced, the actions mandated by the present Airworthiness Directive (AD) are intended to improve the fire safety standard of the insulation blankets installed on ATR aircraft.

This AD replaces AD 2001-635-061(B) which is cancelled.

3. ACTIONS:

In order to comply with the requirements the following measures are rendered mandatory on the effective date of this AD:

During the next "eight year calendar check" and at the latest before May 31, 2009, remove the MPET insulation blankets and replace them with the new one in accordance with the instructions given by SB ATR 72-25-1074.

REF.: Service Bulletin ATR 72-25-1074

Any later approved revision of this SB is acceptable.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon receipt from JANUARY 23, 2002