[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6854-6855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3167]



[[Page 6854]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-10-AD; Amendment 39-12644; AD 2002-03-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM 
700 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE (SOCATA) Model TBM 700 
airplanes. This AD requires you to install a new strainer draining 
system in the cabin fuselage. This AD is the result of mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 
authority for France. 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.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on March 29, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of March 
29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information 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) 893-
1400; facsimile: (954) 964-4191. You may view this information at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-10-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

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:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This 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 Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    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.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
certain SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes. This proposal was published in 
the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on 
November 14, 2001 (66 FR 57007). The NPRM proposed to require you to 
install a new strainer draining system in the cabin fuselage.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule 
or on our determination of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor 
corrections:
    --provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting 
the unsafe condition; and
    --do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 79 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the modification:

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

What Is the Compliance Time of This AD?

    The compliance time of this 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

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States,

[[Page 6855]]

or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule 
does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This 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 DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 AD to read as follows:

2002-03-03  Socata--Groupe Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-12644; Docket 
No. 2001-CE-10-AD.

    (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 airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD 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     Within the next 3     In accordance with
 K072-53.                      months after March    the Technical
                               29, 2002 (the         Instructions
                               effective date of     supplied with Kit
                               this AD), unless      No. OPT70 K072-53,
                               already               as specified in
                               accomplished.         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, Standards Office, 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, Standards Office, 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) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with the Technical Instructions supplied with Kit No. OPT70 K072-53, 
as specified in Socata Service Bulletin SB 70-082 53, dated June 
2000. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
You can get copies 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 can look at copies at the FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 2000-
373(A), dated October 18, 2000.


    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on March 29, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 4, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-3167 Filed 2-13-02; 8:45 am]
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