[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 12, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9377-9379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02409]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2413; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00982-A; 
Amendment 39-22941; AD 2025-02-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; DAHER AEROSPACE (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by SOCATA) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain DAHER AEROSPACE (DAHER) Model TBM 700 airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by certain existing emergency procedures in the pilot's 
operating handbook (POH) that cannot be fully accomplished since 
certain equipment cannot be disconnected by the pilot(s) from the 
flight deck. This AD requires revising the existing POH for your 
airplane to provide the flight crew with corrected emergency 
procedures. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 19, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 19, 
2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket

[[Page 9378]]

No. FAA-2024-2413; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For DAHER material identified in this AD, contact DAHER 
AEROSPACE Customer Support, Airplane Business Unit, Tarbes--Cedex 9, 
France 65921; phone: (833) 826-2273; email: daher.com">tbmcare@daher.com; website: 
daher.com.
     You may view this material 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2413.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (206) 
231-2346; email: fred.guerin@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain DAHER Model TBM 
700 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 
24, 2024 (89 FR 84838). The NPRM was prompted by European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0164, dated August 18, 2023 (EASA 
AD 2023-0164) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is 
the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The 
MCAI states that the emergency procedures ``Cabin Electrical Fire or 
Smoke During flight'' and ``Smoke elimination'' cannot be fully 
accomplished since certain equipment cannot be disconnected by the 
pilot(s) from the flight deck. The MCAI requires incorporating a 
temporary revision (TR) into the emergency procedures section of the 
applicable POH, informing all flight crews, and operating the airplane 
accordingly. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to increased 
flight crew workload during critical phases of flight, resulting in 
reduced control of the airplane.
    To address the unsafe condition, DAHER published Temporary Revision 
30, dated July 2023, to the DAHER Pilot's Operating Handbook, TBM 960, 
Edition 0, dated January 27, 2022 (DAHER TR 30), which removes the 
procedures ``Cabin Electrical Fire or Smoke During Flight'' and ``Smoke 
elimination'' of the DAHER Model TBM 960 Pilot's Operating Handbook, 
Edition 0, dated January 27, 2022, and replaces them with the new 
emergency procedure ``Fire or Smoke in Flight''.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing POH 
for your airplane to provide the flight crew with corrected emergency 
procedures. The owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot 
certificate may revise the existing POH for your airplane and must 
enter compliance with the applicable paragraph of the AD into the 
airplane maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 
91.417(a)(2)(v). The pilot may perform this action because it only 
involves revising the POH. This action could be performed equally well 
by a pilot or a mechanic. This is an exception to the FAA's standard 
maintenance regulations.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2413.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are 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 referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and 
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. 
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed DAHER TR 30, which removes the procedures ``Cabin 
Electrical Fire or Smoke During Flight'' and ``Smoke elimination'' and 
replaces them with the new emergency procedure ``Fire or Smoke in 
Flight.''
    This material 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.

Clarification of Relationship Between DAHER TR 30 and the AD 
Applicability

    Although the applicability of this AD is certain serial-numbered 
DAHER Model TBM 700 airplanes, the TR that needs to be inserted into 
the applicable POH for the owner/operator's airplane is Temporary 
Revision 30, dated July 2023, to DAHER Pilot's Operating Handbook TBM 
960, Edition 0, dated January 27, 2022. The FAA type certificate data 
sheet (TCDS) specifies Model TBM 700 airplanes, but the notes in the 
FAA TCDS indicate that, depending on the airplane's serial number and 
any optional modification installed, an affected Model TBM 700 airplane 
could have a trade name that includes a ``900'' designation, including 
TBM 900, TBM 910, TBM 930, TBM 940, or TBM 960.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    EASA AD 2023-0164 includes requirements to ``inform all flight 
crews and, thereafter, operating the airplane accordingly'' and this AD 
does not specifically require those actions because those actions are 
already required by FAA regulations.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 930 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise POH............................  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $79,050
                                         hour = $85.
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[[Page 9379]]

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

    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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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 airworthiness 
directive:

2025-02-08 DAHER AEROSPACE (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
SOCATA): Amendment 39-22941; Docket No. FAA-2024-2413; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2023-00982-A.

 (a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 19, 2025.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to DAHER AEROSPACE (type certificate previously 
held by SOCATA) Model TBM 700 airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers 
687 through 1491 inclusive, certificated in any category.

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2600, Fire 
Protection System.

 (e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by certain emergency procedures in the 
existing pilot's operating handbook (POH) that cannot be fully 
accomplished since certain equipment cannot be disconnected by the 
pilot(s) from the flight deck. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
lead to increased flight crew workload during critical phases of 
flight, resulting in reduced control of the airplane.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Required Actions

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
existing POH for your airplane by incorporating Temporary Revision 
30, dated July 2023, to the DAHER Pilot's Operating Handbook, TBM 
960, Edition 0, dated January 27, 2022. The owner/operator (pilot) 
holding at least a private pilot certificate may revise the existing 
POH for your airplane and must enter compliance with the applicable 
paragraph of this AD into the airplane maintenance records in 
accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must 
be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, 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, mail 
it to the address identified in paragraph (i) of this AD or email 
to: AMOC@faa.gov. If mailing information, also submit information by 
email. 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.

 (i) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Fred Guerin, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (206) 231-2346; email: 
fred.guerin@faa.gov.

 (j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Temporary Revision 30, dated July 2023, to the DAHER Pilot's 
Operating Handbook, TBM 960, Edition 0, dated January 27, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For DAHER material identified in this AD, contact DAHER 
AEROSPACE Customer Support, Airplane Business Unit, Tarbes--Cedex 9, 
France 65921; phone: (833) 826-2273; email: daher.com">tbmcare@daher.com; 
website: daher.com.
    (4) You may view this material 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 (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov.

    Issued on February 4, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02409 Filed 2-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P