[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7080-7082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3513]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-76-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 Model TBM
700 airplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting the
elevator trim tab for cracks, and replacing any elevator trim tab part
found to have cracks. 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 cracks in the elevator trim tab fitting, which, if
not detected and corrected, could result in separation of the elevator
trim tab and loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 16, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-76-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 SOCATA Groupe Aerospatiale, Customer Support, Aerodrome Tarbes-
Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone (33)
62.41.73.00; facsimile (33) 62.41.76.54; 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-76-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-76-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, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain SOCATA Groupe Aerospatiale TBM 700
airplanes. The DGAC reports that cracks in the elevator trim tab were
found during routine maintenance inspections.
[[Page 7081]]
Investigation on the cause of the cracking showed that a particular
batch of elevator trim tab fittings were defective from the
manufacturer. Continued progression of the cracks in these elevator
trim tab fittings could reduce the structural soundness of the elevator
trim tab. This condition, if not corrected, could result in separation
of the elevator trim tab from the airplane and cause loss of control of
the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
SOCATA has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 70-079-55, dated
April 1996, which specifies procedures for inspecting for cracks in the
elevator trim tab fittings and replacing any cracked part.
The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
French AD 96-118(B), dated June 19, 1996, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
The FAA's Determination
The SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplane 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 series airplanes of the
same type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would
require inspecting the elevator trim tab fittings for cracks using a
dye penetrant method, and replacing any cracked part. Accomplishment of
the proposed inspection and replacement would be in accordance with
SOCATA TBM Aircraft Service Bulletin No. SB 70-079-55, dated April
1996.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 16 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $4,160
or $260 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 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-76-AD.
Applicability: Model TBM 700 airplanes (all serial numbers),
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 within the next 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent cracks in the elevator trim tab fitting, which, if
not detected and corrected, could result in separation of the
elevator trim tab and loss of control of the airplane, accomplish
the following:
(a) Inspect the left-and right-hand elevator trim tab fittings
for cracks using a dye penetrant aerosol method in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions section in SOCATA TBM Aircraft
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-079-55, dated April, 1996.
(b) If cracks are found, prior to further flight, replace the
cracked part with one of improved design in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions section in SOCATA TBM Aircraft SB No.
70-079-55, dated April, 1996.
(c) No person may install an elevator trim tab fitting
manufactured between January 1, 1993 and February 29, 1996, on any
of the affected airplanes.
(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) Questions or technical information related to Service
Bulletin No. 70-079-55, issued April 1996, should be directed to
SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Customer Support, Aerodrome Tarbes-
Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone (33)
62.41.73.00; facsimile 62.41.76.54; 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 service information may be examined
at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
[[Page 7082]]
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-
118(B), dated June 19, 1996.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 4, 1998.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3513 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
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