[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44401-44403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16532]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-16-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TB 21 
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 TB 21 airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to modify the 
exhaust system. 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 high levels of carbon monoxide from entering the cockpit during 
certain flight configurations, which could result in the pilot becoming 
incapacitated or impairing his/her judgement. Such a condition could 
lead to the pilot not being able to make critical flight safety 
decisions and 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 August 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-CE-16-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 also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2002-CE-16-AD'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic

[[Page 44402]]

files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    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: 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) 893-
1400; facsimile: (954) 964-4141. 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; 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 
contact we 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 mailed comments, 
you must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, 
write ``Comments to Docket No. 2002-CE-16-AD.'' We will date stamp and 
mail the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

    The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale 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 TB 21 
airplanes. The DGAC reports three occurrences in which carbon monoxide 
levels in the cockpit have been found to be above specified tolerance 
levels during certain flight configurations. Carbon monoxide is 
entering the cockpit from the rear part of the fuselage.
    This condition resulted from a design problem and all three 
occurrences were discovered prior to delivery of any of the affected 
airplanes. The modification required in this proposed AD is being 
applied at the factory for all other Model TB 21 airplanes.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    This condition, if not corrected, could result in high levels of 
carbon monoxide entering the cockpit during certain flight 
configurations. High levels of carbon monoxide in the cockpit could 
result in the pilot becoming incapacitated or impairing his/her 
judgement. Such a condition could lead to the pilot not being able to 
make critical flight safety decisions and result in loss of control of 
the airplane.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    Socata has issued TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-126 
78, dated November 2001.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

    The service bulletin includes procedures for modifying the exhaust 
pipe.

What Action Did the DGAC Take?

    The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
French AD 2001-610(A), dated December 12, 2001, in order to ensure 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 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 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 TB 21 airplanes of the same type design 
that are on the U.S. registry;
--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 13 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 the proposed 
modification:

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                                                                Total cost per
                  Labor cost                      Parts cost       airplane       Total cost on U.S. operators
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3 workhours x $60 = $180......................            $260            $440  $440 x 13 = $5,720.
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[[Page 44403]]

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. 2002-CE-16-AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model TB 21 airplanes, serial numbers 500 through 2080, 2091, and 
2101, 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 high levels of carbon monoxide from 
entering the cockpit during certain flight configurations, which 
could result in the pilot becoming incapacitated or impairing his/
her judgement. Such a condition could lead to the pilot not being 
able to make critical flight safety decisions and result in loss of 
control of the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
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(1) Install a part number (P/N)   Within the next 50  In accordance with
 TB 21 9600200000 exhaust          hours time-in-      Socata TB
 extension to the exhaust pipe.    service (TIS)       Aircraft
 This installation is              after the           Mandatory Service
 Modification No. MOD.178.         effective date of   Bulletin SB 10-
                                   this AD.            126 78, dated
                                                       November 2001,
                                                       and the
                                                       applicable
                                                       maintenance
                                                       manual.
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(2) Do not install, on any        As of the           Not applicable.
 affected airplane, any of the     effective date of
 following components without      this AD.
 incorporating Modification No.
 MOD.178 as required by
 paragraph (d)(1) of this AD:
 (i) Exhaust installation
 assemblies P/N TB21 56001000, P/
 N TB21 56001005, or P/N TB21
 5600100501; or (ii) Turbo
 exhaust tubes P/N TB21
 56001001, P/N TB21 56001006, or
 P/N TB21 5600100601.
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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 Standards Office 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 Standards Office Manager.

    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. No passengers are 
allowed for this flight.
    (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: 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) 
893-1400; facsimile: (954) 964-4141. 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 2001-
610(A), dated December 12, 2001.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-16532 Filed 7-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P