Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Airplanes

[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

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