Flight Data Recorders

FAA Aircraft Certification Service SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB

SAIB: NM-07-20 Date: March 21, 2007 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin alerts you, repair stations, mechanics holding Inspection Authorization (IA) and Flight Standard District Office (FSDO) Principal Maintenance Inspectors (PMI) and/or Principal Avionics Inspectors (PAI) of service difficulties and safety issues associated with Flight Data Recorders on Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S. A (Embraer) Model EMB- 135 and EMB-145 airplanes.

Background

Examination of the recorded data from flight data recorders installed in the Embraer EMB- 135 and EMB-145 aircraft has revealed that some of the data is not being updated at a rate sufficient to meet DFDR sampling rate requirements of, 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121.344, Appendix M. Lack of reliable data from the flight data recorder could hamper discovery of the cause of an accident or an incident, and hinder the FAA in developing and mandating actions to prevent subsequent accidents or incidents.

Recommendation

The FAA recommends all U.S. operators of Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft series airplanes incorporate Embraer Service Bulletin 145-31- 0042, Revision 2 dated June 23, 2004, or Revision 3 dated December 17, 2004 or a later revision, to bring the required flight data recording into compliance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121.344, Appendix M.

For Service Information Contact

EMBRAER – EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE AERONÁUTICA S.A. TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS AV. BRIG. FARIA LIMA, 2170 SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS - SP - 12227-901 BRASIL Fax: ++ 55 12 3927-7546 e-mail: [email protected]

For Further Information Contact:

Forrest Keller, ANM-117 FAA Transport Airplane Directorate, International Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton WA, 98055; phone: (425) 227-22790; email: [email protected].