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FAA Issues Airworthiness Directives for Embraer ERJ 190

DALLAS — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released two new airworthiness directives (ADs) for Embraer aircraft, effective January 29, 2025. The directives address safety concerns regarding unexpected wear on wing hinge bearing assemblies of aileron surfaces.

The first directive (2024-25-01) applies to Embraer ERJ 190-400 aircraft, replacing a previous AD from December 2023. The second directive (2024-25-04) affects Embraer ERJ 190-300 aircraft, replacing an earlier directive.

Both ADs were prompted by reports of unexpected wear discovered during functional testing of the aileron control system backlash. If left unaddressed, this condition could lead to excessive backlash, resulting in limit cycle oscillation that could expose the aircraft's structure and systems to unacceptable vibration levels and reduce airplane controllability.

The directives require:

  • Regular inspections of the wing aileron control system
  • Detailed examination of aileron surfaces
  • Implementation of specific compliance times based on aircraft flight hours
  • Mandatory corrective actions before the next flight if issues are found

The FAA has coordinated with Brazil's aviation authority (ANAC) on these directives, incorporating ANAC's requirements with some modifications for U.S. operators. While the original ANAC directives included requirements for reporting issues to manufacturers and returning certain parts, the FAA has not adopted these requirements in their versions.

Aircraft operators must comply with these directives within specified timeframes unless they have completed the required actions. The FAA estimates these safety measures will affect all Embraer ERJ 190-300 and ERJ 190-400 aircraft registered in the United States.

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