[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60184-60186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29411]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-43-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM
700 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata)
Model TBM 700 airplanes. The proposed AD would require replacing the
starter generator mounting adapter
[[Page 60185]]
with a part of improved design. The proposed AD is the result of
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of the starter generator
caused by failure of the starter generator mounting adapter, which
could result in loss of electrical power.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 15, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-43-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from the SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport
Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone
62.41.74.26; facsimile 62.41.74.32; or the Product Support Manager,
SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road,
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone (954) 964-6877; facsimile
(954) 964-1668. This information also may be examined at the Rules
Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut Street, suite
900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-6934; facsimile
(816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 97-CE-43-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-43-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes.
The DGAC reports four incidents of cracked starter generator mounting
adapters and one incident of a broken adapter. These conditions, if not
detected and corrected, could result in loss of electrical power.
Relevant Service Information
Socata has issued Service Bulletin No. SB 70-072, dated January
1996, which specifies procedures for replacing the starter generator
mounting adapter with a part of new design. The parts necessary for
this replacement are included in Socata Kit No. OPT70K0058-24.
The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
French AD 95-242(B)R1, dated February 28, 1996, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
The FAA's Determination
This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the DGAC; reviewed all
available information, including the service information referenced
above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this
type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes of the same
type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD
action. The proposed AD would require replacing the starter generator
mounting adapter with a part of improved design by incorporating Socata
Kit No. OPT70K0058-24. Accomplishment of the proposed replacement would
be in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 70-072, dated
January 1996.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 55 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD.
The proposed replacement would take approximately 2 workhours per
airplane to accomplish, at an average labor rate of approximately $60
an hour. Parts to accomplish the proposed AD will be provided by the
manufacturer at no cost to the owners/operators of the affected
airplanes. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $6,600 or $120 per
airplane.
Differences Between the French AD, the Service Bulletin, and This
Proposed AD
French AD 95-242(B)R1, dated February 28, 1996, and Socata Service
Bulletin No. SB 70-072, dated January 1996, both give the owners/
operators of certain Model TBM 700 airplanes the option of replacing
the starter generator mounting adapter immediately or inspecting this
adapter for cracks every 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) up to 100 hours
TIS, at which time the replacement is mandatory. This allows the
owners/operators the option of having their airplanes inspected up to
three times before mandatory replacement, provided no cracked adapters
were found, which, if found cracked, would require immediate
replacement.
The FAA has determined that, since the parts for the replacement
are free; the parts are available; and the action takes less than 2
workhours to accomplish, 25 hours TIS would be adequate time to
incorporate the replacement. If followed with a final rule, the
proposed AD would require replacing the starter generator mounting
adapter within 25 hours TIS, and would not allow the option of
repetitively
[[Page 60186]]
inspecting every 25 hours TIS up to 100 hours TIS.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
SOCATA--Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No. 97-CE-43-AD.
Applicability: Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 1 through
109, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 25 hours time-in-service
(TIS), unless already accomplished.
To prevent loss of the starter generator caused by failure of
the starter generator mounting adapter, which could result in loss
of electrical power, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the starter generator mounting adapter with a part
of improved design by incorporating Socata Kit No. OPT70K0058-24.
This replacement shall be accomplished in accordance with the
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Socata Service Bulletin No.
SB 70-072, dated January 1996.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document(s) referred to herein upon request to SOCATA--Groupe
AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes,
B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke
Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023. These documents may also be
examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 95-
242(B)R1, dated February 28, 1996.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 31, 1997.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29411 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]
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