Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-120 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes, that requires removing the thermal insulating blankets from the upper rear nacelle structure; re-positioning the engine exhaust duct; and replacing the engine exhaust bracket with a new engine exhaust bracket, if necessary. For certain airplanes, this amendment also requires installing new stainless steel plates onto the upper rear nacelle structure. 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 prevent fretting of the titanium thermal insulating blankets, which could result in an increased risk of fire in the engine exhaust duct of the tail pipe.