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

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-145 series airplanes, that requires a one-time inspection to detect bulging or cracking of the pitot 1 and pitot 2 drain tubes in the forward electronic compartment; and cleaning the tubes or replacing drain tubes with new tubes, if necessary. This amendment also requires modification of the pitot/ static system. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct bulging and cracking of the pitot 1 and pitot 2 drain tubes in the forward electronic compartment caused by cycles of water freezing and expanding inside the tubes, which could result in erroneous airspeed indications to the flight crew and reduced operational safety in all phases of flight.