[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64-66]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33405]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-61-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. The proposed AD would require you to apply 
Loctite on attaching bolt threads of inboard, central, and outboard 
carriages; increase tightening torques; and replace central carriage 
attaching bolts. 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 loose or the loss of flap attachment screws, which could cause 
rough or irregular control. Such rough or irregular control could lead 
to the loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by February 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send three copies of your comments to FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-61-
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 AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 
Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 894-
1160; facsimile: (954) 964-4191. You may also look at 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 the 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 by 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 look at 
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.
    We are re-examining 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

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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-61-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 FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on 
certain Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes. The DGAC reports two 
occurrences on Socata model TBM 700 airplanes where, following a 
flight, a screw of a flap attachment fitting was found partly unscrewed 
and another was missing. These occurrences are the result of flap 
vibration.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? Loose 
or the loss of flap attachment screws could result in rough or 
irregular control. Such rough or irregular control could lead to loss 
of control of the airplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Socata 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 70-087 57, dated September 
2000.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for:
--Applying Loctite on attaching bolt threads of inboard, central, and 
outboard carriages;
--Increasing the tightening torques; and
--Replacing central carriage attaching bolts.

    What action did the DGAC take? The DGAC classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued French AD Number 2000-375(A), dated 
September 20, 2000, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in France.
    Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement? 
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are 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. In carrying out this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept FAA informed 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 Model TBM 700 airplanes of the same type 
design;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

    What would the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously referenced service 
bulletin.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 75 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
complete the actions of the service bulletin:

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                                                                                                 Total cost on
                       Labor cost                            Parts cost       Total cost per     U.S. airplane
                                                                                 airplane          operators
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6 workhours  x  $60 for each hour = $360...............               $10   $360 + $10 = $370     75  x  $370 =
                                                                                                        $27,750
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Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations 
proposed would not have a substantial direct effect 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, it is determined that this proposed rule 
would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
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. You may get 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 Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

SOCATA--Groupe Aerospatiale:
    Docket No. 2000-CE-61-AD.
    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 1 thru 164, and 166 thru 
173, that are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent loose flap attachment screws or the 
loss of flap attachment screws that could cause rough or irregular 
control and

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consequently the loss of control of the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
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(1) Apply Loctite on          Within the next 25    Do this action
 attaching bolt threads of     hours time-in-        following the
 inboard, central, and         service (TIS) after   ACCOMPLISHMENT
 outboard carriages;           the effective date    INSTRUCTIONS
 increase tightening           of this AD, if not    paragraph in Socata
 torques; and replace          already done.         Service Bulletin SB
 central carriage attaching                          70-087, dated
 bolts with new bolts, part                          September 2000 and
 number Z00.N5109337315.                             the applicable
                                                     maintenance manual.
(2) Do not install any        As of the effective   Not Applicable.
 central carriage attaching    date of this AD.
 bolts that are not part
 number Z00.N5109337315 (or
 FAA-approved equivalent
 part number).
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    (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. Submit your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    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. 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 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? 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.
    (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 get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Customer Support, Aerodrome Tarbes-
Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or the Product 
Support Manager, SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 
7501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023. You may look at 
these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 2000-
375(A), dated September 20, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 22, 2000.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-33405 Filed 12-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P