Parts Attach Horizontal And Vertical Stabilizers On Phenom 100 Airplanes

The FAA has issued an Unapproved Part Notification (No. 2014-2014ACE072501) advising  aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, maintenance organizations, and parts suppliers and distributors regarding the standard hardware identified above, to conduct a close visual inspection for surface irregularities, such
as gouges or cracks, before being installed on a product. Suspect parts should be quarantined until conformity to the manufacturing standard is verified.

The affected parts are Barrel Nuts, PN NAS577B7A, Alcoa Fastening Systems: Batch Numbers 5334992-000, M004187-000 or 5323292-000.

According to the FAA, on  July 25, 2014, the agency issued Emergency AD (EAD) 2014-15-51, which requires inspection and replacement as necessary of the barrel nuts at the horizontal stabilizer to vertical stabilizer attachment joint on Embraer S.A. Model EMB-500 (Phenom 100) airplanes. This emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This action was prompted by the Agencia Nacional De Aviacao Civil (ANAC), which is the aviation authority for Brazil, issuing emergency AD No.: 2014-07-02, dated July 25, 2014 (referred to after this as "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for Embraer S.A. Model EMB-500 airplanes.

The MCAI states:

“This EAD results from a report of cracking in the barrel nuts at the horizontal stabilizer-to-vertical stabilizer attachment joint found during an inspection at the assembly line. This EAD is being issued to detect and correct cracking of the barrel nuts at the horizontal stabilizer-to-vertical stabilizer attachment joint, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the affected part and consequent detachment of the horizontal stabilizer from the airplane.

"Since this condition may exist in other airplanes of the same type and affects flight safety, an immediate corrective action is required. Thus, sufficient reason exists to request compliance with this EAD in the indicated time limit without prior notice.”

Regulations require that type-certificated products conform to their type design and are in a condition for safe condition. Aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, maintenance organizations, and parts suppliers and distributors are encouraged to inspect their aircraft and/or parts inventories for the referenced part numbers. If these PN NAS577B7A barrel nuts are found in existing inventory, it is recommended that they be quarantined to prevent installation until a determination can be made regarding their origin and eligibility for installation.

FMI: www.faa.gov