AD/ERJ-170/13 Ram Air Turbine Bearings (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Embraer ERJ-170 Series Aeroplanes

AD/ERJ-170/13 Ram Air Turbine Bearings 4/2008

Applicability:

Embraer ERJ-170 aircraft models equipped with Ram Air Turbine (RAT) part number (P/N) 1703781 and serial numbers (S/N) 0005 and 0101 through 0419 inclusive.

Requirement:

1.    Verify the installed S/N of the RAT.

2.    If the RAT has S/N 0110, 0150, 0255 or 0354 through 0419, reidentify the RAT P/N from 1703781 to 1703781A.

3.    If RAT has S/N 0005, 0101 through 0109, 0111 thru 0149, 0151 through 0254 or 0256 through 0353, replace the RAT with a RAT bearing P/N 1703781A.

The detailed instructions and procedures to accomplish this AD are described in Embraer Service Bulletin No. 170-24-0041 original issue, or later revisions approved by the ANAC.

Note:  AGÊNCIA NACIONAL DE AVIAÇÃO CIVIL - BRAZIL AD 2007-12-01 dated 24 January 2008 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Within the next 1300 flight hours or 6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

2.    At the time of verification as detailed in Requirement 1 of this AD.

3.    Within the next 6000 flight hours or 26 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 April 2008.

Background:

It has been found the occurrence of a failed bearing within the RAT generator may lead to a RAT generator failure.  The RAT generator was designed to provide emergency electrical power to essential systems in case of loss of all other sources of aircraft AC electrical power.

David Punshon
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

21 February 2008