[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44558-44560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21397]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-11-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 inspect 
for defective Amendment A fuel tank air vent valves and replace with 
parts of improved design. 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 in-flight damage to the wing skins caused by 
abnormal venting conditions of the wing fuel tank, which could result 
in severe handling problems or reduced structural capability. Continued 
operation with such structural deformation or handling problems could 
result in loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before September 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-11-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, 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: 011 33 5 
62 41 73 00; facsimile: 011 33 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. This information also may be examined 
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? The FAA invites comments on 
this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
submit your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. The FAA will consider all comments received on or 
before the closing date. We may amend the proposed rule in light of 
comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional 
rulemaking action.
    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 suggest a need to modify the rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the rule in 
the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of the proposed AD.
    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 
whether the style of this document is clear, 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.plainlanguage.gov. 
    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. 2001-CE-11-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 that Amendment 
A fuel tank air vent valve floats may block the air vent valve in the 
closed position making the valve defective. This condition is the 
result of a change in the manufacturing of the fuel tank air vent 
valve.
    The DGAC reports one occurrence on a Socata Model TBM 700 airplane 
of abnormal venting conditions of the wing fuel tank due to a fuel tank 
air vent

[[Page 44559]]

valve float blocking the air vent valve in the closed position.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in severe handling problems 
or reduced structural capability. Continued operation with such 
structural deformation or handling problems could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? SOCATA 
has issued Service Bulletin SB 70-090, dated December 2000.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? This service 
bulletin includes procedures for :

--Inspecting the fuel tank air vent valve to determine the Amendment 
level of the part; and
--Replacing the defective Amendment A fuel tank air vent valve with a 
part of improved design (Amendment B).

    What action did DGAC take? The DGAC classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued French AD 2001-004(A), dated January 
10, 2001, in order to assure 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. Pursuant to 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 inspect the fuel tank air vent valve to determine the Amendment 
level of the part and replace the defective Amendment A fuel tank air 
vent valve with a part of improved design (Amendment B).

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 38 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 
accomplish the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Total cost per     Total cost on
                 Labor cost                             Parts cost                airplane       U.S. operators
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2 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $120.........  No parts required for the                  $120            $4,560
                                               inspection.
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    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed 
replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Total cost per
          Labor cost                  Parts cost            airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 per hour =  No cost for parts.....             $120
 $120.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations 
proposed herein 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. 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, 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. 2001-CE-11-AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following model TBM 700 airplanes that are certificated in any 
category:

Serial Nos.
    114, 117, 118,
    121 through 173,
    175 through 177,
    179 through 184,
    186 and 187

    (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 in-flight damage to the wing skins 
caused by abnormal venting conditions of the wing fuel tank, which 
could result in severe handling problems or reduced structural 
capability. Continued operation with such structural deformation 
could result in loss of control of the airplane.

[[Page 44560]]

    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the upper         Within the next 50    In accordance with
 surface of the fuel tank      hours time-in-        paragraph (B) of
 airvent valve for             service (TIS) after   the ACCOMPLISHMENT
 modification stamp ``Amdt     the effective date    INSTRUCTIONS in
 A''.                          of this AD.           Socata Service
                                                     Bulletin SB 70-090,
                                                     dated December
                                                     2000, and the
                                                     applicable
                                                     maintenance manual.
(i) If the fuel tank air      Prior to further
 vent valve is stamped         flight after the
 ``Amdt A'' on the upper       inspection required
 surface, install a fuel       in paragraph (d)(1)
 tank air vent valve that      of this AD, unless
 incorporates Amendment B      ready accomplished.
 modifications.
(ii) If modification stamp
 ``Amdt A'' is not on the
 upper surface of the fuel
 tank air vent valve,
 reinstall the valve and no
 further action is required
 by paragraph (d)(1) of this
 AD.
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(2) Do not install any fuel   As of the effective   Not applicable.
 tank air vent valve that      date of this AD.
 does not have Amendment B
 incorporated (or FAA-
 approved equivalent part).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 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: 011 33 
5 62 41 73 00; facsimile: 011 33 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 examine 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 2001-
004(A), dated January 10, 2001.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 17, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21397 Filed 8-23-01; 8:45 am]
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