[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17125-17127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM 
700 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata) 
Model TBM 700 airplanes that do not have MOD 70-065-32 incorporated. 
This proposed AD would require removing the MLG inboard doors and the 
door locking control mechanism (MOD 70-065-32). This AD is the result 
of an incident on one of the affected airplanes where the MLG inboard 
door locking hooks (hinges) corroded, caused the doors to jam, and 
prevented the MLG from extending. Analysis has shown that removing the 
MLG inboard doors will not cause any airplane safety or performance 
problems. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent failure of the MLG to extend because of corroded MLG inboard 
locking hinges, which could result in loss of control of the airplane 
during landing operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at 
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from the SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport 
Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone 
62.41.74.26; facsimile 62.41.74.32; or the Product Support Manager, 
U.S. AEROSPATIALE, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75053; 
telephone (214) 641-3614; facsimile (214) 641-3527. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William J. Timberlake, Program 
Officer, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa, 
and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; 
telephone (32 2) 513.38.30; facsimile (32 2) 230.68.99; or Mr. Karl 
Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 
Walnut Street, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 
426-6934; facsimile (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned 
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes. 
The DGAC

[[Page 17126]]

reports incidents where the MLG inboard door locking hooks (hinges) 
corroded, caused the doors to jam, and prevented the MLG from 
extending. These hinges are exposed to slush/debris while landing in 
certain runway environments. This slush/debris can lead to corrosion in 
this area or interfere with the ability to extend the MLG. These 
conditions, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of 
control of the airplane during landing operations.
    Analysis submitted to the FAA reveals that removing the MLG inboard 
doors on these Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes will not cause any safety 
or performance problems.

Relevant Service Information

    Socata has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 
1996, which specifies removing the MLG inboard doors and the door 
locking control mechanism (MOD 70-065-32) on Socata Model TBM 700 
airplanes. Socata has also issued Technical Instruction of Modification 
OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, which includes procedures for 
incorporating MOD 70-065-32 on the affected airplanes.
    The DGAC classified the above-referenced service information as 
mandatory and issued DGAC AD No. 96-037(B)R1, dated July 17, 1996, in 
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
France.

The FAA's Determination

    This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of 
the DGAC; reviewed all available information, including the service 
information referenced above; and determined that AD action is 
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes of the same 
type design that are registered in the United States and do not have 
MOD 70-065-32 incorporated, the FAA is proposing AD action. The 
proposed AD would require removing the MLG inboard doors and the door 
locking control mechanism (MOD 70-065-32). Accomplishment of the 
proposed actions would be in accordance with the Technical Instruction 
of Modification OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, as referenced in 
Socata SB Socata 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    The unsafe condition specified in this proposed AD develops 
primarily because of slush/debris accumulating in the MLG inboard doors 
area while landing in certain runway environments. An airplane 
previously operated in these conditions could have already-developed 
corrosion, regardless of future airplane operation. For this reason, 
the FAA has determined that the compliance time of the proposed AD 
should be specified in both hours time-in-service (TIS) and calendar 
time (whichever occurs first), in order to assure that corrosion is not 
allowed to go undetected over time.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 47 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Socata will provide 
parts at no cost to the owners/operators of the affected airplanes. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $8,460. This figure is based on the 
presumption that no owner/operator of the affected airplanes has 
accomplished the proposed actions.
    Socata has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to 
equip approximately 30 of the affected airplanes. Presuming that each 
set of parts is incorporated on an affected airplane, the cost impact 
upon U.S. airplane owners/operators would be reduced by $5,400 from 
$8,460 to $3,060.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 
will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation 
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of 
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location 
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Socata-Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD.

    Applicability: Model TBM 700 airplanes (serial numbers 1 through 
109), certificated in any category, that do not have the main 
landing gear (MLG) inboard doors and the door locking control 
mechanism removed (MOD 70-065-32) in accordance with the Technical 
Instruction of Modification OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, as 
referenced in Socata SB Socata 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.


[[Page 17127]]


    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD or within the next 6 calendar 
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, 
unless already accomplished.
    To prevent failure of the MLG to extend because of corroded MLG 
inboard locking hinges, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane during landing operations, accomplish the following:
    (a) Remove the MLG inboard doors and the door locking control 
mechanism (MOD 70-065-32) in accordance with the Technical 
Instruction of Modification OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, as 
referenced in Socata SB Socata 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may remove 
MOD 70-065-32 on any affected airplane, by reinstalling the MLG 
inboard doors and the door locking control mechanism.
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, 
FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, 
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request shall be forwarded through an 
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then 
send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the SOCATA Groupe 
AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, 
B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or the Product Support Manager, 
U.S. AEROSPATIALE, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75053; or 
may examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 2, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8995 Filed 4-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U