ALL OPERATORS MESSAGE

Date: 13 September 2018 Ref. AOM: 42/72/2018/04 issue 1

This AOM is for information only and does not give instructions to Operators. It advises Operators of matters, which
are currently, either under investigation or dealt with by ATR. However, Operators may consider initiating their own
action. This AOM may be re-issued to inform Operators of the closing action (Service Bulletin, No action required,
etc…).

Aircraft model: ATR42 & ATR72

ATA: 25

SUBJECT: Inadvertent cockpit seat movement – Repetitive inspection

APPLICABILITY
ATR42 and ATR72 aeroplanes, all certified models

REASON
The aim of this AOM is to inform ATR operators that one inadvertent cockpit seat
movement during take-off has been reported on aircraft equipped with new designed seats
(post EASA AD 2016-0256 – IPECO VSB 063-25-08/-09/-10) and to recommend operators
to perform a repetitive inspection of the cockpit seats track lock springs, in accordance with
IPECO VSB 063-25-14.

DESCRIPTION
One case of seat movement and several cases of impossibility to lock cockpit seats have
been reported on aircraft equipped with new designed seats (post EASA AD 2016-0256 -
IPECO VSB 063-25-08/-09/-10). For each of these cases, at least one track lock spring
has been found broken.

Investigation with IPECO is in progress to address this issue.

ATR would like to remind operators that:

Investigations evidenced that, when the seat is adequately adjusted/locked (3 pins
of the horizontal locking system are fully engaged inside the associated track lock
pin holes), inadvertent cockpit seat movement cannot occur.
ATR issued specific Operation Engineering Bulletin (OEB) ‘Untimely pilot seat
unlocking’ for all models (already included inside FCOM) detailing the operational
procedure to make sure that the cockpit seats are fully locked after seat adjustment
(refer to Annex).

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Date: 13 September 2018 Ref. AOM: 42/72/2018/04 issue 1

RECOMMENDATION
As springs have occasionally been found to fail on cockpit seats pre and post EASA AD
2016-0256 (pre and post IPECO VSB 063-25-08/-09/-10) configuration, ATR recommends
all operators to perform a repetitive inspection of the cockpit seats track lock springs
condition in accordance with IPECO VSB 063-25-14 every 750FH, until a final fix is made
available by IPECO.
This repetitive inspection concerns all cockpit seats: pre and post EASA AD 2016-0256
(pre and post IPECO VSB 063-25-08/-09/-10 or pre and post ATR MOD 07373 or 07374).
EASA plans to issue a new Airworthiness Directive mandating the above-mentioned
repetitive inspection of the track lock springs in accordance with IPECO VSB 063-25-14.
This inspection does not preclude the instructions of the EASA AD 2016-0256 (or FAA AD
2017-22-02).

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
- EASA AD 2016-0256 dated 16 December 2016
- IPECO VSB 063-25-08 Original issue dated 31 May 2016
- IPECO VSB 063-25-09 Original issue dated 31 May 2016
- IPECO VSB 063-25-10 Original issue dated 31 May 2016
- IPECO VSB 063-25-14 Original issue dated 14 August 2018
- ATR OEB ‘Untimely pilot seat unlocking’ (enclosed)

D. CAILHOL
ATR Head of Continued Airworthiness
Email: continued.airworthiness@atr-aircraft.com

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Date: 13 September 2018 Ref. AOM: 42/72/2018/04 issue 1

ANNEX
BEFORE PROPELLER ROTATION – PROCEDURE EXTRACT

ATR OEB ‘UNTIMELY PILOT SEAT UNLOCKING’

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