[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67341-67343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27949]
[[Page 67341]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0868; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-027-AD;
Amendment 39-16854; AD 2011-23-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
A TBM700 operator reported an occurrence where, as a result of
handling the standby compass lighting bulb cover in flight, both
essential bus bars (ESS BUS 1 and ESS BUS 2) failed, leading to loss
of a number of instruments and navigation systems.
The technical investigations carried out by SOCATA have shown
that the cause of this occurrence was that the electrical protection
of some TBM 700 aeroplanes is insufficient to allow in-flight
handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
This condition, if not corrected, may compromise the ability of
the pilot to safely operate the aeroplane under certain flight
conditions due to the increase of workload.
We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 6, 2011.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 6,
2011.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC
20590.
For service information identified in this AD, contact SOCATA--
Direction des Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, France; telephone: +33
(0)5 62 41 73 00; fax: +33 (0)5 62 41 7654; or in the United States
contact SOCATA North America, Inc., North Perry Airport, 7501 South
Airport Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1400;
fax: (954) 964-4141; Internet: http://www.socatanorthamerica.com. You
may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
(816) 329-4148.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on August 16, 2011 (75
FR 50706). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
A TBM700 operator reported an occurrence where, as a result of
handling the standby compass lighting bulb cover in flight, both
essential bus bars (ESS BUS 1 and ESS BUS 2) failed, leading to loss
of a number of instruments and navigation systems.
The technical investigations carried out by SOCATA have shown
that the cause of this occurrence was that the electrical protection
of some TBM 700 aeroplanes is insufficient to allow in-flight
handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
This condition, if not corrected, may compromise the ability of
the pilot to safely operate the aeroplane under certain flight
conditions due to the increase of workload.
To address this unsafe condition, SOCATA have developed a
modification which consists of installing a protection fuse on the
wire at the standby compass connector, introduced by SOCATA Service
Bulletin (SB) 70-192-34.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires installation
of a protection of the electrical wire at the standby compass
connector.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received.
Request To Correct Fax Number
Jeanne Da Costa of DAHER SOCATA stated that there is a
typographical error in the fax number for the SOCATA office located in
France. Currently, the fax number listed under the ADDRESSES section
and in the Related Information section is +33 (0)5 62 41 7-54. The
commenter states that the correct fax number is +33 (0)5 62 41 7654 and
requests the correction be made in the final rule AD action.
We agree with the commenter and have revised the final rule AD
action to incorporate the correct fax number.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or
increase the scope of the AD.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have required different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 124 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $350 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $53,940 or $435 per product.
According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation
Programs,'' describes in more
[[Page 67342]]
detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:
(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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM (75 FR 50706, August 16,
2011), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received and other
information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone (800)
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after receipt.
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 FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2011-23-03 SOCATA: Amendment 39-16854; Docket No. FAA-2011-0868;
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-027-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 6,
2011.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial
numbers 148, 434 through 572, 574, and 576, certificated in any
category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 34: Navigation.
(e) Reason
The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
A TBM700 operator reported an occurrence where, as a result of
handling the standby compass lighting bulb cover in flight, both
essential bus bars (ESS BUS 1 and ESS BUS 2) failed, leading to loss
of a number of instruments and navigation systems.
The technical investigations carried out by SOCATA have shown
that the cause of this occurrence was that the electrical protection
of some TBM 700 aeroplanes is insufficient to allow in-flight
handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
This condition, if not corrected, may compromise the ability of
the pilot to safely operate the aeroplane under certain flight
conditions due to the increase of workload.
To address this unsafe condition, SOCATA have developed a
modification which consists of installing a protection fuse on the
wire at the standby compass connector, introduced by SOCATA Service
Bulletin (SB) 70-192-34.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires installation
of a protection of the electrical wire at the standby compass
connector.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, within 6 months after December 6, 2011 (the
effective date of this AD), install a protection fuse on the wire at
the standby compass connector following the Accomplishment
Instructions in DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin
SB 70-192-34, dated April 2011.
(g) FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.
(h) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on any
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn:
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.
(i) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.
2011-0130, dated July 8, 2011; and DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-192-34, dated April 2011, for
related information.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) You must use DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service
Bulletin SB 70-192-34, dated April 2011, to do the actions required
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) under
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 on December 6, 2011.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
SOCATA--Direction des
[[Page 67343]]
Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, France; telephone: +33 (0)5 62 41 73
00; fax: +33 (0)5 62 41 7654; or in the United States contact SOCATA
North America, Inc., North Perry Airport, 7501 South Airport Road,
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954)
964-4141; Internet: http://www.socatanorthamerica.com.
(3) You may review copies of the referenced service information
at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
(4) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 24, 2011.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27949 Filed 10-31-11; 8:45 am]
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