[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8821-8824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03163]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26235; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-065-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes (type certificate previously held by 
EADS SOCATA) that would revise AD 2007-04-13. This proposed AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 
by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an 
unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe

[[Page 8822]]

condition as cracks found on the main landing gear cylinders. We are 
issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
SOCATA, Direction des Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, France; 
telephone: 33 (0)5 62.41.73.00; fax: 33 (0)5 62.41.76.54; or SOCATA 
North America, North Perry Airport, 7501 S Airport Rd., Pembroke Pines, 
Florida 33023, telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 964-4141; 
Internet: http://www.socata.com. You may view this 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2006-
26235; 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 this proposed AD, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert J. 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:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-
26235; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-065-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On February 8, 2007, we issued AD 2007-04-13, Amendment 39-14945 
(72 FR 7576, February 16, 2007). That AD requires actions intended to 
address an unsafe condition on SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes (type 
certificate previously held by EADS SOCATA) and was based on mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country.
    Since we issued AD 2007-04-13, Amendment 39-14945 (72 FR 7576, 
February 16, 2007), it has been determined that the time between 
repetitive inspections should be extended and an optional terminating 
action for the repetitive inspections is now available.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No. 2006-0085R2, dated January 16, 2015 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Cracks on several main landing gear (MLG) cylinders have been 
reported in service.
    This condition, if not to detected and corrected, could lead to 
fatigue cracks in the shock strut cylinder of the MLG, which could 
result in a collapsed MLG during take-off or landing runs, and 
possibly reduce the structural integrity of the aeroplane.
    To address this unsafe condition, EASA issued AD 2006-0085 to 
require repetitive special detailed inspections (SDI) for cracks of 
the MLG shock strut cylinder and, depending on findings, relevant 
investigative and corrective actions.
    After that AD was issued, SOCATA performed an analysis to 
demonstrate that the inspection interval could be extended, and 
developed a reinforced MLG less prone to fatigue, which is embodied 
in production through SOCATA modification (MOD) 70-0190-32 and can 
be introduced in service through SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) 70-
130-32 at Revision 03.
    Prompted by these developments, EASA issued AD 2006-0085R1 to 
increase the inspection interval and to introduce the installation 
of a reinforced MLG on the right hand (RH) side and left hand (LH) 
side as an optional terminating action for the repetitive SDI 
required by this AD.
    Since that AD was issued, it was found that aeroplanes MSN 639 
to 683 (inclusive) are not affected by this AD. The applicability 
has therefore been revised to remove those MSN.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2006-
26235.

Relevant Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    SOCATA has issued DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 70-130, Revision 3, dated December 2014. The actions 
described in this service information are intended to correct the 
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI. The DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-130, Revision 3, dated December 2014, 
describes procedures for repetitively inspecting the main landing gear 
(MLG) for cracks and replacing cracked MLG with a reinforced MLG as a 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This service 
information is reasonably available; see ADDRESSES for ways to access 
this service information.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 431 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S.

[[Page 8823]]

operators to be $109,905, or $255 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 4 work-hours and require parts costing $6,000, for a cost of 
$6,340 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 removing Amendment 39-14945 (72 FR 
75776, February 16, 2007), and adding the following new AD:

SOCATA (type certificate previously held by EADS SOCATA): Docket No. 
FAA-2006-26235; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-065-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 6, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD revises AD 2007-04-13, Amendment 39-14945, (72 FR 75776, 
February 16, 2007) (``AD 2007-04-13'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial 
numbers 1 through 638 and 687, that:
    (1) Are not equipped with a left-hand main landing gear (MLG) 
body part number (P/N) D68161 or D68161-1 and a right-hand MLG body 
P/N D68162 or D68162-1; and
    (2) are certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing 
gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks found on several main 
landing gear (MLG) cylinders. We are issuing this proposed AD to 
detect and correct cracks in the shock strut cylinder of the MLG, 
which could cause the MLG to fail. This failure could result in a 
collapsed MLG during takeoff or landing and possible reduced 
structural integrity of the airplane. We are revising AD 2007-04-13 
to increase the time between the repetitive inspections and to 
incorporate an optional modification to terminate the required 
repetitive inspections.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (f)(4) of this AD:
    (1) As of March 23, 2007 (the effective date retained from AD 
2007-04-13), for MLG with forging body totaling more than 1,750 
landings but less than 3,501 landings since new:
    (i) Inspect the forging body for cracks within 100 landings 
after March 23, 2007 (the effective date retained from AD 2007-04-
13), following the Accomplishment Instructions of EADS SOCATA TBM 
Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-130, dated January 2006, 
or DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-130, 
Revision 3, dated December 2014.
    (ii) If no cracks are detected during the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this AD, repetitively thereafter inspect at 
intervals not to exceed 240 landings until a reinforced landing gear 
specified in paragraph E. Terminating Solution of the Accomplishment 
Instructions in DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB 70-130, Revision 3, dated December 2014, is installed.
    (2) As of March 23, 2007 (the effective date retained from AD 
2007-04-13), for MLG with forging body totaling more than 3,500 
landings since new:
    (i) Inspect the forging body for cracks within 25 landings after 
March 23, 2007 (the effective date retained from AD 2007-04-13), 
following the Accomplishment Instructions of EADS SOCATA TBM 
Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-130, dated January 2006, 
or DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-130, 
Revision 3, dated December 2014.
    (ii) If no cracks are detected during the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD, repetitively thereafter inspect at 
intervals not to exceed 240 landings until a reinforced landing gear 
specified in paragraph E. Terminating Solution of the Accomplishment 
Instructions in DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB 70-130, Revision 3, dated December 2014, is installed.
    (3) If any cracks are detected during any inspection required in 
paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(2) of this AD, including all 
subparagraphs:
    (i) Before further flight, remove the affected landing gear leg 
and confirm the presence of the crack with dye penetrant inspection 
or fluorescent penetrant inspection.
    (ii) If the crack is confirmed, before further flight, contact 
SOCATA at the address in paragraph (h) of this AD to coordinate the 
FAA-approved landing gear repair/replacement and implement any FAA-
approved repair/replacement instructions obtained from SOCATA, or 
replace the cracked landing gear with a reinforced landing gear 
specified in paragraph E. Terminating Solution of the Accomplishment 
Instructions in DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB 70-130, Revision 3, dated December 2014. This replacement 
terminates the repetitive inspections required by this AD.
    (4) If you do not know the number of landings, follow the 
instructions in the Compliance section of EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-130, dated January 2006.

(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 found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Albert J. 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

[[Page 8824]]

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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2006-0085R2, dated January 16, 2015. You may examine the MCAI on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2006-26235. For service information related to this 
AD, contact SOCATA, Direction des Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, 
France; telephone: 33 (0)5 62.41.73.00; fax: 33 (0)5 62.41.76.54; or 
SOCATA North America, North Perry Airport, 7501 S Airport Rd., 
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023, telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 
964-4141; Internet: http://www.socat.com. You may view this 
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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 6, 2015.
Robert Busto,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03163 Filed 2-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P