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

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-145 series airplanes. This action requires replacement of certain flexible joints and O-rings of the rear fuselage with improved flexible joints and new O-rings. This action also requires installation of new support assemblies to attach to the engine bleed line tubing in the area of the rear fuselage to improve the engine bleed line tubing alignment. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of certain flexible joints that attach to the engine bleed lines in the area of the rear fuselage. Failure of these flexible joints could cause damage to the fuel lines leading to the auxiliary power unit, which could result in an increased risk of fire to occur in the rear baggage compartment during flight.