[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57007-57009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28420]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-10-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. This proposed AD would require you to install 
a new strainer draining system in the cabin fuselage. This proposed AD 
is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified 
by this proposed AD are intended to prevent water from accumulating in 
the fuselage, then freezing and interfering with or causing the 
elevator controls to seize. This could result in loss of elevator 
control with consequent loss of airplane control.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before December 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-10-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get service information that applies to this 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 view 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;

[[Page 57008]]

telephone: (816) 329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this 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 to the address specified under the caption 
ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on or before the 
closing date. We may amend this proposed rule in light of comments 
received. Factual information that supports your ideas and suggestions 
is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this proposed 
AD action and determining whether we need to take additional rulemaking 
action.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may 
view 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 contactwe have with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of this proposed AD.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want FAA 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-10-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 an incident in 
which the elevator controls jammed on one of the affected airplanes.
    Jamming of the elevator controls occurred because water accumulated 
in the fuselage and froze. Water had accumulated in the fuselage 
because the strainer and draining hole became clogged.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? If 
this condition is not corrected, water may accumulate in the fuselage, 
freeze and interfere with or cause the elevator controls to seize. This 
could result in loss of elevator control.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? ocata 
has issued Service Bulletin SB 70-082 53, dated June 2000.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for installing a new strainer draining 
system in the cabin fuselage.
    What action did DGAC take? The DGAC classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued French AD 2000-373(A), dated October 
18, 2000, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in France.
    Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement? 
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 FAA informed of 
the situation described above.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of 
This 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 this 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 this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 79 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
accomplish this proposed modification:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total cost   Total cost
            Labor cost              Parts cost      per        on U.S.
                                                  airplane    operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 = $120.......         $114         $234      $18,486
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Compliance Time of This Proposed AD

    What would be the compliance time of this proposed AD? The 
compliance time of this proposed AD is ``within the next 3 months after 
the effective date of this AD''.
    Why is the compliance time presented in calendar time instead of 
hours time-in-service (TIS)? Although water in the cabin fuselage could 
interfere with the elevator controls and become unsafe during flight, 
the condition is not a direct result of airplane operation. The chance 
of this situation occurring is the same for an airplane with 10 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) as it would be for an airplane with 500 hours 
TIS. A calendar time for compliance will assure that the unsafe 
condition is addressed on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.

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

[[Page 57009]]

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-10AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 1 through 164, 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 water from accumulating in the 
fuselage, then freezing and interfering with or causing the elevator 
controls to seize. This could result in loss of elevator control 
with consequent loss of airplane control.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporate Kit No. OPT70 K072-   Within the next 3   In accordance with
 53.                               months after the    the Technical
                                   effective date of   Instructions
                                   this AD, unless     supplied with Kit
                                   already             No. OPT70 KO72-
                                   accomplished.       53, as specified
                                                       in Socata.
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       SB 70-082 53,
                                                       dated June 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. 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; 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 view 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-
373(A), dated October 18, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 5, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-28420 Filed 11-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P