Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42-500 Airplanes and Model ATR72-212A Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Aerospatiale Model ATR42-500 and ATR72- 212A series airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the upper closing rib of the vertical fin, related investigative actions, and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires modifying the installation of the vertical leading edge fairing at the fin tip, which ends the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report that rudder operation difficulties occurred on a Model ATR42-500 series airplane while the airplane was on the ground. We are issuing this AD to prevent interference between the upper closing rib and the rudder, which could result in a rudder jam and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.