Airworthiness Directives; Daher Aerospace (Type Certificate Previously Held by SOCATA) Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70962-70964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26964]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0795; Project Identifier 2019-CE-054-AD; Amendment 
39-21837; AD 2021-24-16]
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 all 
Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously held by SOCATA) Model TB 
20 and TB 21 airplanes. 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 cracks on 
the main landing gear (MLG) legs. This AD requires repetitively 
inspecting the MLG and performing all applicable corrective actions. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 18, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 18, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Daher Aircraft Inc., Pompano Beach Airpark, 601 NE 10 Street, 
Pompano Beach, FL 33060; phone: (954) 893-1400; website: www.tbm.aero. 
You may view this service information 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0795.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0795; 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 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Johnson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: 
(720) 626-5462; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Daher Aerospace 
(type certificate previously held by SOCATA) Model TB 20 and TB 21 
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 17, 
2021 (86 FR 51840). The NPRM was prompted by MCAI originated by the 
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2019-
0274, dated November 6, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), 
to address an unsafe condition on all Daher Aerospace (formerly SOCATA) 
Model TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Occurrences have been reported of finding cracks on MLG legs of 
TB 20 and TB 21 aeroplanes.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
structural failure of an MLG leg and consequent MLG collapse, 
possibly resulting in damage to the aeroplane and injury to 
occupants.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, DAHER Aerospace 
issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive special detailed inspections (SDI) using magnetic 
particle method of the affected MLG area, and, depending on 
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0795.

Comments

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

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is 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 and 
service information 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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 10-154-32, 
dated September 2019. The service information contains procedures for 
repetitively inspecting the MLG area for cracks and performing any 
rework and repair. This service information 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 52 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 8 work-hours 
per airplane to perform the magnetic particle inspection required by 
this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the inspection cost of 
this AD on U.S. operators to be $35,360, or $680 per airplane, per 
inspection cycle.

[[Page 70963]]

    In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary rework would take 
12 work-hours and require parts costing $400, for a cost of $1,420 per 
airplane. The FAA has no way of determining the number of airplanes 
that may need these actions. If the reworked MLG area is found damaged 
during a follow-on magnetic particle inspection, because the damage may 
vary considerably from airplane to airplane, the FAA has no way of 
estimating this repair cost.

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 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:

2021-24-16 Daher Aeropsace (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
SOCATA): Amendment 39-21837; Docket No. FAA-2021-0795; Project 
Identifier 2019-CE-054-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 18, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously 
held by SOCATA) Model TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes, all serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3200, Landing Gear 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    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 cracks on the 
main landing gear (MLG) legs. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
structural failure of an MLG leg and consequent collapse of the MLG. 
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in damage to 
the airplane and injury to occupants.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Repetitive Inspections

    (1) Before the MLG exceeds 16,000 landings since first 
installation on an airplane or within 200 landings after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 3,200 landings, accomplish the magnetic 
particle inspection on each MLG for cracks in the left-hand and 
right-hand MLG leg and take all applicable corrective actions before 
further flight in accordance with the Description of Accomplishment 
Instructions in Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 10-154-32, dated 
September 2019, except you are not required to contact the 
manufacturer. Instead, repair using a method approved by the 
Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; the European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Daher Aerospace's EASA Design 
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval 
must include the DOA-authorized signature. For a repair to be 
approved as required by this paragraph, the approval letter must 
specifically refer to this AD.
    (2) For the purposes of this AD, any maneuver resulting in 
weight on the MLG for any duration of time after initial takeoff 
counts as a landing. If the number of landings for the MLG is 
unknown, multiply the number of airframe hours by a factor of 3.6 
and round up to the nearest whole landing.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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 certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD or 
email: [email protected].
    (2) 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) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Gregory Johnson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (720) 626-5462; fax: (816) 329-4090; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0274, dated November 6, 2019, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0795.

(j) 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 Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 10-154-32, dated 
September 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Daher 
Aerospace Inc., Pompano Beach Airpark, 601 NE 10 Street, Pompano 
Beach, FL 33060; phone: (954) 893-1400; website: https://www.tbm.aero.
    (4) You may view this service information 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.
    (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,

[[Page 70964]]

email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on November 17, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-26964 Filed 12-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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