[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1622-1624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-122]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1139; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-021-AD; 
Amendment 39-16911; AD 2011-27-09]
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 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 
installation of the wrong (switched) aileron control cables in the 
wing. This unsafe condition could lead to restricted movement of the 
aileron, resulting in reduced control of the airplane. We are issuing 
this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 15, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of February 15, 
2012.

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 proposed AD, contact 
Socata--Direction des Services--65921 Tarbes Cedex 9--France; telephone 
+33 (0) 62 41 7300, fax +33 (0) 62 41 76 54, or for North America: 
Socata North America, 7501 South Airport Road, North Perry Airport 
(HWO), Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: 
(954) 964-4141; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://mysocata.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 October 21, 2011 (76 
FR 65419). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A TBM 700 operator reported a case of inverted installation of 
aileron control cables in the wing. The shortest cable was found 
installed instead of the longest one on wing tip side, with left 
hand (LH) threaded end in upper section. This wrong installation 
could have been caused by mistaken maintenance data.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
restricted movement

[[Page 1623]]

of the aileron, resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane, 
particularly when operating under adverse flight conditions on 
landing and during avoidance manoeuvres.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires an inspection 
to verify the correct installation of the aileron control cables 
and, in case of discrepancies, proper re-installation of the cables 
in accordance with the approved design configuration.

Even with potentially reduced aileron deflection, Socata's analysis 
shows that the airplane is still capable of achieving its published 
cross wind landing limits.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 404 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 0.5 work-hour per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $0 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $17,170, or $43 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 16 work-hours and require parts costing $0, for a cost of 
$1,360 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.
    According to the manufacturer, some 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 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 the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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, 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:

2011-27-09 Socata: Amendment 39-16911; Docket No. FAA-2011-1139; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-021-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 15, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial 
numbers (SN) 1 through 572, 574, and 576, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

(e) Reason

    The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as installation of the 
wrong (switched) aileron control cables in the wing. This unsafe 
condition could lead to restricted movement of the aileron, 
resulting in reduced control of the airplane. We are issuing this AD 
to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within 12 months after February 15, 2012 (the effective date 
of this AD) or within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after February 
15, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, 
inspect the aileron control cables in left and right wings for 
proper installation following the accomplishment instructions of 
Daher-Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-191-27, dated April 
2011.
    (2) If during the inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD you find the cables are improperly installed, before further 
flight, remove the cables and correctly re-install the cables 
following the accomplishment instructions of Daher-Socata Mandatory 
Service Bulletin SB 70-191-27, dated April 2011.
    (3) After February 15, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), 
after each removal of the aileron control cables, you must re-
install using the maintenance manual temporary revisions below:
    (i) For S/N 1 through 433: Socata TBM 700 Model Maintenance 
Manual Temporary Revision No. TR040.27, dated April 2011.
    (ii) For S/N 434 through 572, 574 and 576: Socata TBM 850 
Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. TR015.27, dated April 
2011.

(g) 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

[[Page 1624]]

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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2011-0101, dated May 25, 2011; Daher-Socata Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 70-191-27, dated April 2011; Socata TBM 700 Model 
Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. TR040.27, dated April 
2011; and Socata TBM 850 Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 
TR015.27, dated April 2011, for related information.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information 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) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51:
    (i) DAHER-SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-191-27, dated 
April 2011;
    (ii) Socata TBM 700 Model Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision 
No. TR040.27, dated April 2011; and
    (iii) Socata TBM 850 Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 
TR015.27, dated April 2011.
    (2) For service information related to this AD, contact Socata--
Direction des Services--65921 Tarbes Cedex 9--France; telephone +33 
(0) 62 41 7300, fax +33 (0) 62 41 76 54, or for North America: 
Socata North America, 7501 South Airport Road, North Perry Airport 
(HWO), Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1400; 
fax: (954) 964-4141; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
http://mysocata.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 January 3, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-122 Filed 1-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P