[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51033-51035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19606]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0778; Project Identifier 2019-CE-062-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Daher Aerospace (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by SOCATA) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously held by 
SOCATA) Model TBM 700 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by 
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 
condition as a non-conforming dump switch ejecting from its slot. This 
proposed AD would require modifying certain dump switches. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 29, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Daher 
Aerospace, 601 NE 10 Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060; phone: (954) 366-
3331; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.daher.com/en/aircraft-manufacturer/customer-service/. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0778; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Johnson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: 
(720) 626-5462; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0778; 
Project Identifier 2019-CE-062-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such

[[Page 51034]]

marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be 
placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 
should be sent to Gregory Johnson, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the 
FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed 
in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2019-0306, dated December 18, 2019 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on certain serial-
numbered Daher Aerospace (formerly SOCATA) Model TBM 700 airplanes. The 
MCAI states:

    It has been determined that, in certain conditions, an affected 
switch [dump switch part number 7388475012 without a seal] may eject 
from its slot. Investigations identified the root cause in a non-
conformity of the affected switch.
    This condition, if not corrected, could, in case of smoke/fumes 
in the cabin, prevent evacuation of the smoke/fumes, possibly 
resulting in excessive flight crew workload and/or injury to 
aeroplane occupants.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, DAHER AEROSPACE 
issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide modification 
instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of the affected parts by installation of a seal, and 
introduces requirements for installation of a dump switch.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0778.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 70-271-21, 
Revision 1, dated November 2019. The service information contains 
procedures for modifying each dump switch part number 7388475012 by 
removing the two indicator light units, installing a seal, installing a 
thin layer of grease, and installing the two indicator lights. This 
service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, 
it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM 
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 150 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it 
would take about 1 work-hour per airplane and require parts costing 
$800 to comply with the modification that would be required by this 
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the inspection cost of 
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $132,750, or $885 per 
airplane.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

Daher Aerospace (Type Certificate Previously Held by SOCATA): Docket 
No. FAA-2021-0778; Project Identifier 2019-CE-062-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 29, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously 
held by SOCATA) Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 1106 and 
larger, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2130, Cabin Pressure 
Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI)

[[Page 51035]]

originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify 
and address an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI 
describes the unsafe condition as a non-confirming dump switch 
ejecting from its slot. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent dump 
switches ejecting from their slots, which, in case of smoke/fumes in 
the cabin, could prevent evacuation of the smoke/fumes. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in excessive flight crew 
workload and injury to airplane occupants.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
each dump switch part number (P/N) 7388475012 to determine if a seal 
is installed, as depicted in Figure 3 of Daher Aerospace Service 
Bulletin SB 70-271-21, Revision 1, dated November 2019.
    (1) If a seal is installed, no further action is required by 
this paragraph.
    (2) If a seal is not installed, within 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD, modify the dump switch in accordance with 
steps 2) through 5) of the Description of Accomplishment 
Instructions in Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 70-271-21, 
Revision 1, dated November 2019.

(h) Parts Installation Provision

    As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a dump 
switch P/N 7388475012 on any airplane unless the switch has been 
modified as described in Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 70-271-
21, Revision 1, dated November 2019. Removal of a dump switch from 
an airplane and re-installation of that dump switch on the same 
airplane within the same maintenance visit is not an installation 
for purposes of this paragraph.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD or email: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Gregory Johnson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (720) 626-5462; fax: (816) 329-4090; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0306, dated December 18, 2019, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2021-0778.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Daher 
Aerospace, 601 NE 10 Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060; phone: (954) 
366-3331; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.daher.com/en/aircraft-manufacturer/customer-service/. You may view this 
referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on September 2, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-19606 Filed 9-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P