Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-135 and -145 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of the oil in the air turbine starter (ATS) to determine the quantity of the oil and the amount of debris contamination in the oil. If the oil quantity is incorrect or if excessive debris is found in the oil, this AD requires replacement of the ATS with a new or serviceable ATS, and continued repetitive detailed inspections. This AD also requires eventual replacement of each ATS with a new, improved ATS, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive detailed inspections. This action is necessary to prevent a flash fire in the nacelle, which would result in the flightcrew shutting down the engine during flight, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.