Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM 700 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16844-16845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6787]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-70-AD; Amendment 39-12152; AD 200106-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM 
700 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata) Model TBM 700 
airplanes equipped with Option No. OPT 70-35-001 (gaseous oxygen 
system). This AD requires you to incorporate a modification that 
relocates the oil breather vent location. This AD is the result of 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 
airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by this AD 
are intended to prevent oil from entering the gaseous oxygen system 
service compartment. Such oil contamination could result in a fire or 
explosion.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on May 11, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of May 
11, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Customer Support, Aerodrome Tarbes-
Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone: (33) 
(0)5.62.41.73.00; facsimile: (33) (0)5.62.41.76.54; or the Product 
Support Manager, SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 
Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 8941160; 
facsimile: (954) 964-4191. You may examine this information at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-70-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The Direction Generale de 
l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for 
France, recently notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on 
certain Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes equipped with Option No. OPT 70-
35-001 (gaseous oxygen system). The DGAC communicates a report of oil 
entering the gaseous oxygen system service compartment on a Model TBM 
700 airplane. In particular, oil was seeping out of the engine oil pump 
breather.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? Such 
oil contamination could result in a fire or explosion.
    Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued a proposal to 
amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to 
include an AD that would apply to certain Socata Model TBM 700 
airplanes equipped with Option No. OPT 70-35-001 (gaseous oxygen 
system). This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on January 8, 2001 (66 FR 1271). 
The NPRM proposed to require you to relocate the oil breather vent 
location by incorporating Technical Instruction No. OPT70 K076-71 
(Modification No. MOD70-119-71) ``OIL PUMP BREATHER''.
    Was the public invited to comment? Interested persons were afforded 
an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No 
comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination 
of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

    What is FAA's final determination on this issue? After careful 
review of all available information related to the subject presented 
above, we have determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial 
corrections. We determined that these minor corrections:

--will not change the meaning of the AD; and
--will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that 5 Model 
TBM 700 airplanes are on the U.S. Registry that could have a gaseous 
oxygen

[[Page 16845]]

system and could be affected by this AD.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to accomplish the 
modification:

Labor Cost--4 workhours  x  $60 = $240
Parts Cost--Socata will provide parts free of charge
Total Cost Per Airplane--$240
Total Cost on U.S. Operators--$240  x  5 = $1,200.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this AD impact various entities? The regulations adopted 
herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not 
have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2001-06-05  Socata--Groupe Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-12152; Docket 
No. 2000-CE-70-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 157, 158, 163, 167, and 168, 
that are:
    (1) equipped with Option No. OPT 70-35-001 (gaseous oxygen 
system); and
    (2) certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent oil from entering the gaseous oxygen 
system service compartment. Such oil contamination could result in a 
fire or explosion.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Relocate the oil          Within the next 100   In accordance with
 breather vent location by     hours time-in-        Socata Service
 incorporating Technical       service (TIS) after   Bulletin No. SB 70-
 Instruction No. OPT 70 K076-  May 11, 2001 (the     085 71, dated
 71 (Modification No. MOD 70-  effective date of     October 2000.
 119-71 ``OIL PUMP             this AD).
 BREATHER'').
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Do not incorporate, on    As of May 11, 2001    Not applicable.
 any affected airplane,        (the effective date
 Option No. OPT 70-35-001      of this AD)..
 (gaseous oxygen system)
 without simultaneously
 incorporating the
 modification required by
 paragraph (d)(1) of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, approves your 
alternative. Submit your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Karl Schletzbaum, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 70-085 71, dated October 2000. 
The Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by 
reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get 
copies from SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Customer Support, Aerodrome 
Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, BP 930--F65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or the 
Product Support Manager, SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry 
Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023. You can 
look at copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 
700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on May 11, 2001.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 2000-
439(A), dated November 15, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 12, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-6787 Filed 3-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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