[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60189-60191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29422]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-77-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Models TB9, 
TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200 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) 
Models TB9, TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200 airplanes. The proposed AD 
would require inspecting the bolts and spacers of the upper attachments 
of the front belts for cracks, dents, etc. (damage); replacing any 
damaged bolts or spacers; incorporating a front belts upper attachment 
reinforcement kit; and reconditioning the belts. The proposed AD is the 
result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 
by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the upper seat belt 
attachment caused by excessive loads on the upper attachment of the 
belt, which could result in bodily injury to the occupants during 
landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 15, 1997.


[[Page 60190]]


ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-77-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, 
SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road, 
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone (954) 964-6877; facsimile 
(954) 964-1668. This information also may be examined at the Rules 
Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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-77-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 Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-77-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 Models TB9, TB10, TB20, 
TB21, and TB200 airplanes. The DGAC advises that the upper attachment 
of the seat belts could exceed maximum load requirements during an 
emergency landing condition, causing failure of these seat belt upper 
attachments. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could 
result in bodily injury to the occupants during landing.

Relevant Service Information

    Socata has issued Service Bulletin No. SB 10-103 and Service 
Bulletin No. SB 10-104, both dated June 1996. These service bulletins 
specify procedures for inspecting the bolts and spacers of the upper 
attachments of the front belts for cracks, dents, etc. (damage); 
replacing any damaged bolts or spacers; incorporating a front belts 
upper attachment reinforcement kit; and reconditioning the belts. 
Service Bulletin No. SB 10-103 applies to Socata Models TB10, TB20, 
TB21, and TB200 airplanes, and Model TB9 airplanes equipped with 
upholstering on the upper duct posts. Service Bulletin No. SB 10-104 
applies to Socata Model TB9 airplanes not equipped with upholstering on 
the upper duct posts.
    The DGAC classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued 
French AD 96-142(A) and French AD 96-143(A), both 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 Models TB9, TB10, TB20, TB21, and 
TB200 airplanes of the same type design registered in the United 
States, the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require 
inspecting the bolts and spacers of the upper attachments of the front 
belts for cracks, dents, etc. (damage); replacing any damaged bolts or 
spacers; incorporating a front belts upper attachment reinforcement 
kit; and reconditioning the belts. Accomplishment of the proposed 
actions would be in accordance with the service bulletins previously 
referenced.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 320 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD.
    Accomplishing the proposed replacement would take approximately 3 
workhours per airplane, at an average labor rate of approximately $60 
an hour. Parts to accomplish the proposed AD cost approximately $300. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $153,600 or $480 per airplane.

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

[[Page 60191]]

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 U.S.C. 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-77-AD.

    Applicability: Models TB9, TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200 
airplanes, serial numbers 1 through 1701; 1707 to 1750; 1758 to 
1763; 1767, 1768, and 1769, certificated in any category.

    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 (e) 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.

    Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent failure of the upper seat belt attachment caused by 
excessive loads on the upper attachment of the belt, which could 
result in bodily injury to the occupants during landing, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the bolts and spacers of the 
upper attachments of the front belts for cracks, dents, etc. 
(damage), in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section 
of one of the following service bulletins, as applicable:
    (1) Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 10-103, dated June 1996, 
which applies to Socata Models TB10, TB20, TB21, and TB200 
airplanes, and Model TB9 airplanes equipped with upholstering on the 
upper duct posts.
    (2) Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 10-104, dated June 1996, 
which applies to Socata Model TB9 airplanes not equipped with 
upholstering on the upper duct posts.
    (b) Prior to further flight, replace any damaged bolts or 
spacers found during the inspection required by paragraph (a) of 
this AD.
    (c) Within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD, incorporate either front belts upper attachment 
reinforcement kit No. OPT10 921000 or OPT10 920900 and recondition 
the belts in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section 
of the applicable service bulletin referenced in paragraph (a)(1) or 
(a)(2) of this AD.
    (d) 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.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may 
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (f) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to SOCATA--Groupe 
AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, 
B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke 
Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023. These documents may also be 
examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 96-
142(A) and French AD 96-143(A), both dated July 17, 1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 31, 1997.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29422 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U