[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 176 (Monday, September 11, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54820-54822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23209]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-34-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Models MS 
880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-150, MS 893A, MS 893E, MS 894A, MS 
894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150T, Rallye 150ST, Rallye 235C, and Rallye 
235E 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 all SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata) 
Models MS 880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-150, MS 893A, MS 893E, MS 
894A, MS 894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150T, Rallye 150ST, Rallye 235C, and 
Rallye 235E airplanes. The proposed AD would require you to 
repetitively inspect, and, if necessary, replace elevator clevis and 
rudder governor control clevis that are too thin. The proposed AD is 
the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified 
in the proposed AD are intended to correct rudder and elevator control 
clevis that are too thin because of abnormal wear, with consequent 
failure of the rudder and elevator clevis. Such failure could lead to 
loss of directional or pitch control.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before October 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-34-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106. You may read comments at this location between 8 
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    You may get service information that applies to the proposed AD 
from SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Customer Support, Aerodrome Tarbes-
Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone: (33) 
(0)5.62.41.73.00; facsimile: (33) (0)5.62.41.76.54; or the Product 
Support Manager, SOCATA--Groupe

[[Page 54821]]

AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, 
Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 894-1160; facsimile: (954) 964-4191. 
You may read this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite your comments on 
the proposed rule. You may send whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
send your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on or before 
the closing date specified above, before acting on the proposed rule. 
We may change the proposals contained in this notice in light of the 
comments received.
    Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
rule that might require a change to the proposed rule. You may examine 
all comments we receive. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of this proposal.
    The FAA is reviewing the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on the 
ease of understanding this document, and any other suggestions you 
might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications that affect 
you. You can get more information about the Presidential memorandum and 
the plain language initiative at http://www.faa.gov/language/.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2000-CE-34-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? 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 
all Socata Models MS 880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-150, MS 893A, 
MS 893E, MS 894A, MS 894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150T, Rallye 150ST, 
Rallye 235C, and Rallye 235E airplanes. The DGAC reports one failure of 
the rudder clevis in a Rallye airplane in flight. Abnormal wear of the 
part resulted in the failure.
    What happens if you do not correct the condition? This condition, 
if not corrected, could result in failure of the rudder and elevator 
clevis and consequent loss of directional or pitch control.

Relevant Service Information

    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Socata 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 155-27, dated April, 2000.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin describes procedures for:

--repetitively inspecting the elevator and rudder governor control 
clevis; and
--if necessary, replacing any clevis that is too thin.
    What actions did the DGAC take? The DGAC issued French AD number 
2000-174(A), dated May 3, 2000, in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
    Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement? 
Socata manufactured these airplane models in France. The FAA type 
certificated these airplane models 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. Complying with this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the 
DGAC informed FAA of the situation described above.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? The FAA has examined the findings of the 
DGAC; reviewed all available information, including the service 
information referenced above; and determined that:
--the unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Socata Models MS 880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-
150, MS 893A, MS 893E, MS 894A, MS 894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150T, 
Rallye 150ST, Rallye 235C, and Rallye 235E airplanes of the same type 
design;
--these airplanes should have the actions specified in the above 
service bulletin incorporated; and
--the FAA should take AD action to correct this unsafe condition.
    What does this proposed AD require? This proposed AD requires you 
to repetitively inspect the elevator and rudder governor control 
clevis, and, if necessary, replace any clevis that is too thin.
    What are the differences between the French AD and the proposed AD? 
The French AD requires inspection, and, if necessary, replacement of 
the elevator and rudder governor control clevis as soon as possible 
and, at the latest, during the next scheduled inspection after the 
effective date of the AD. We propose a requirement that you inspect, 
and, if necessary, replace the clevis within the next 100 hours time-
in-service (TIS).
    We do not have justification to require this action as soon as 
possible. We use compliance times such as this when we have identified 
an urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 100 hours TIS 
will give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes enough time 
to have the proposed actions accomplished without compromising the 
safety of the airplanes.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD would affect 81 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of the proposed action for the affected 
airplanes on the U.S. Register? We estimate that it would take 
approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed 
inspection, at an average labor rate of $60 an hour. Based on the cost 
factors presented above, we estimate the total cost impact of the 
proposed inspection on U.S. operators to be $19,440, or $240 per 
airplane.
    If required, the total cost of parts per airplane is approximately 
$24 per airplane every time you replace both clevises.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this proposed AD impact relations between Federal and State 
governments? The proposed regulations 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. We have

[[Page 54822]]

determined that this proposed rule would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? 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 Department of Transportation 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if put into effect, 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. We have placed a 
copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action in the 
Rules Docket. You may obtain a copy of it 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, under 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. FAA amends Section 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Socata--Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No. 2000-CE-34-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? The following model 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category:
     MS 880B
     MS 892E-150
     MS 894A
     Rallye 150T
     Rallye 235E
     MS 885
     MS 893A
     MS 894E
     Rallye 150ST
     MS 892A-150
     MS 893E
     Rallye 100S
     Rallye 235C
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? Our intent is that the 
actions specified in this AD correct rudder clevis and elevator 
control clevis that are too thin because of abnormal wear and the 
consequent failure of the rudder and elevator clevis. Such failure 
could lead to loss of directional or pitch control.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, you must accomplish the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions               Compliance times       Procedures
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(1) Inspect the elevator and      (i) Within the      Do this inspection
 rudder control clevis abnormal    next 100 hours      in accordance
 wear. Measure clevis thickness.   time-in-service     with the
 The thickness at the bent         (TIS) after the     ACCOMPLISHMENT
 section should be at least        effective date of   INSTRUCTIONS of
 0.043 inch (in)/1.1 millimeter    this AD.            Socata Mandatory
 (mm).                            (ii) After the       Service Bulletin
                                   initial             SB 155-27, dated
                                   inspection,         April 2000.
                                   inspect at
                                   intervals not to
                                   exceed every 600
                                   hours TIS.
(2) If during inspection the      Before further      Do this action in
 elevator or rudder control        flight after the    accordance with
 clevis measures a thickness       inspection where    the
 less than 0.043 in/1.1 mm,        abnormal wear was   ACCOMPLISHMENT
 replace the clevis.               found after the     INSTRUCTIONS of
                                   effective date of   Socata Mandatory
                                   this AD.            Service Bulletin
                                                       SB 155-27, dated
                                                       April 2000.
(3) Lubricate the clevis........  At intervals not    Do this action in
                                   to exceed every     accordance with
                                   100 hours TIS.      the
                                                       ACCOMPLISHMENT
                                                       INSTRUCTIONS of
                                                       Socata Mandatory
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       SB 155-27, dated
                                                       April 2000.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate approves your 
alternative. Send your request through an FAA Principal Maintenance 
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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. You should 
include in the request an assessment of the effect of the 
modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe 
condition, specific actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? You can contact Karl Schletzbaum, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64016; telephone: (816) 329-4146; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may obtain copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Customer Support, Aerodrome Tarbes-
Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone: (33) 
(0)5.62.41.73.00; facsimile: (33) (0)5.62.41.76.54; or the Product 
Support Manager, SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 
7501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 
894-1160; facsimile: (954) 964-4191. You may read these documents at 
FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 2: French AD 2000-174(A), dated May 3, 2000, addresses this 
subject.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 1, 2000.
Carolanne L. Cabrini,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23209 Filed 9-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P