[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 16, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50706-50708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20820]
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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]
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
certain SOCATA Model TBM 700 Airplanes. 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
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.
The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 30,
2011.
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 7-54; 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.
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 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 Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; e-mail:
[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-2011-0868;
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-027-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://www.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
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD
No. 2011-0130, dated July 8, 2011 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), 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.
Relevant Service Information
DAHER-SOCATA has issued TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB
[[Page 50707]]
70-192, dated April 2011. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.
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.
Differences Between This Proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 124 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $350 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $53,940 or $435 per product.
According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this proposed 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 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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
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
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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
SOCATA: Docket No. FAA-2011-0868; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-
027-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by September 30, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial
numbers 148, 434 through 572, 574, and 576, certificated in any
category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 34:
Navigation.
Reason
(e) 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.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, within 6 months after 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,
dated April 2011.
FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) 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-
[[Page 50708]]
4090; e-mail: [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.
Related Information
(h) 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, dated April 2011, for related
information. 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 7-54; 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.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 9, 2011.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20820 Filed 8-15-11; 8:45 am]
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