[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17393-17395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06483]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-1019; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-038-AD;
Amendment 39-17810; AD 2014-06-06]
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 landing
gear actuator rod and piston becoming unscrewed during operation and
the landing gear actuator ball joint becoming uncrimped. We are issuing
this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 2, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of May 2, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
1019; 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)
62 41 7300, fax +33 (0) 62 41 76 54, or for North America: SOCATA NORTH
AMERICA, 7501 South Airport Road, North Perry Airport, Pembroke Pines,
Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 964-4141; email:
[email protected]; Internet: http://mysocata.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.
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 add an AD that would apply to SOCATA Model TBM 700
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December
4, 2013 (78 FR 72834). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products and was based on mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country. The MCAI states:
During maintenance check, possible unscrewing of rod and piston
during operation was detected on a landing gear actuator.
Investigation showed that this was likely caused by maintenance
operation not conforming with the procedure described in the SOCATA
maintenance manual.
Moreover, following in-service landing gear collapse, uncrimping
of a right hand main landing gear (MLG) actuator ball joint was
detected. Investigation revealed a manufacturing non-conformity of
some actuator rod end assemblies.
These conditions, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
MLG or nose landing gear (NLG) failure during landing or roll-out
and consequent damage to the aeroplane and injury to occupants.
To address this potential unsafe condition, SOCATA issued
Service Bulletin (SB) 70-197-32 to require a one-time inspection of
the landing gear actuator piston/rod and SB 70-206-32 to require a
one-time inspection of the landing gear actuator ball joint
centering and, depending on findings, accomplishment of corrective
actions.
SOCATA also developed modification 70-0334-32, embodied in
production to secure rod/piston assembly through addition of a pin
and to reduce retraction/extension indication failure through
improvement of switch kinematics. These modified actuators have a
new part number (P/N).
For the reasons described above, this AD requires a one-time
inspection of the landing gear actuators piston/rod and ball joint
centering and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable
corrective actions.
The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-1019-0002.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment
[[Page 17394]]
received on the proposal and the FAA's response to the comment.
Reference Correction Within the Actions and Compliance Section
Catherine Herau of DAHER-SOCATA requested we change the service
information references in paragraph (f) of this AD in the Actions and
Compliance section to clarify the AD.
We agree with the commenter and changed our final rule AD action to
reference the Accomplishment Instructions section of the service
information rather than the specific paragraph.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 495 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $84,150, or $170 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 3 work-hours for each main landing gear and 3 work-hours for
the nose landing gear, and require parts costing $100 for each rod and
assembly. 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 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 by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2013-1019; 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 (78 FR 72834, December 4, 2013), 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:
2014-06-06 SOCATA: Amendment 39-17810; Docket No. FAA-2013-1019;
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-038-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 2, 2014.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes, all serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing
Gear.
(e) Reason
This 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 the landing gear
actuator rod and piston becoming unscrewed during operation and the
landing gear actuator ball joint becoming uncrimped. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct discrepancies in the pistons/rods and
the ball joint centering of the nose landing gear and main landing
gear, which could result in landing gear failure and lead to damage
of the airplane and occupant injury.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through
(f)(4) of this AD on any airplane with the landing gear actuators
part number (P/N) T700A3230050000, P/N T700A323005000000, or P/N
T700A323005300000 installed:
(1) Within the next 8 months after May 2, 2014 (the effective
date of this AD), perform a detailed visual inspection (DVI) of the
pistons and rods of the nose landing gear (NLG) and left hand (LH)
and right hand (RH) main landing gear (MLG) actuators and measure
the distance following the Accomplishment Instructions in DAHER-
SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-197, dated April 2013.
(2) Within the next 8 months after May 2, 2014 (the effective
date of this AD), perform a DVI of the ball joint centering of the
NLG and LH and RH MLG actuators and measure the ball joint mismatch
following the Accomplishment Instructions in DAHER-SOCATA Mandatory
Service Bulletin SB 70-206, dated April 2013.
(3) If any discrepancy is found during any inspection required
in paragraphs (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight,
replace the affected actuator or rod end assembly if applicable with
an airworthy part following the applicable Accomplishment
Instructions in DAHER-SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-197,
dated April 2013; and/or DAHER-SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB
70-206, dated April 2013.
(4) As of May 2, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), do not
install on any airplane a landing gear actuator P/N T700A3230050000,
P/N T700A323005000000, or P/N T700A323005300000, unless it is found
to be in compliance with the inspection requirements of paragraphs
(f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD. The landing gear actuator must be
installed when doing these inspections.
(g) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office,
[[Page 17395]]
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.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.:
2013-0227, dated September 23, 2013 for related information. The
MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-1019-0002.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) DAHER-SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-197, dated
April 2013.
(ii) DAHER-SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-206, dated
April 2013.
(3) For SOCATA service information identified in 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, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954)
893-1400; fax: (954) 964-4141; email: [email protected];
Internet: http://mysocata.com.
(4) You may view this 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.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 19, 2014.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-06483 Filed 3-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P