Airworthiness Directives; EADS SOCATA Model TBM 700 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 51 (Friday, March 16, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12548-12550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4736]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26180; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-59-AD; 
Amendment 39-14995; AD 2007-06-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; EADS SOCATA Model TBM 700 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 the 
products listed above. 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 the 
discovery of propeller control cables with a defective crimping. Two 
cable ends were found uncrimped at the factory after an engine run-up 
test, and one cable end was also found uncrimped on the first 100-hour 
aircraft maintenance check. We are issuing this AD to require actions 
to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 20, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 20, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,

[[Page 12549]]

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Streamlined Issuance of AD

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. The streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct 
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
    This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we 
considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe 
condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this 
reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2006 
(71 FR 68764). That NPRM proposed to require you to check the batch 
number and/or replace the control cables.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received.
    EADS SOCATA states the costs of the required parts and the 
necessary work-hours to replace the control cables are under warranty 
coverage. Therefore, the cost of work-hours to operators/owners is only 
the one work-hour for inspection.
    The FAA will revise the cost of compliance to reflect only the 
above costs of work-hours.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable in a U.S. court of 
law. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively 
from the information provided in the MCAI and related service 
information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
described in a separate paragraph of the AD. These requirements, if 
any, take precedence over the actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 20 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Where 
the service information lists required parts costs that are covered 
under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these 
parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, 
some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be 
$1,600, or $80 per product.

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 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; 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, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) 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

0
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:

2007-06-14 EADS SOCATA: Amendment 39-14995; Docket No. FAA-2006-
26180; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-59-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 
20, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 
285 through 304 and 307, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states the

[[Page 12550]]

discovery of propeller control cables with a defective crimping. Two 
cable ends were found uncrimped at the factory after an engine run-
up test, and one cable end was also found uncrimped on the first 
100-hour time-in-service aircraft maintenance check. If not 
corrected, an incorrect crimping of the propeller control lever 
cable could generate a decrease of the propeller revolutions per 
minute which could result in loss of power.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, within the next 50 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after April 20, 2007 (the effective of this AD), 
inspect for the batch number identification and replace defective 
control cables as necessary in accordance with the paragraph B. of 
the ``ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS'' of EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft 
Mandatory Alert Service Bulletin SB 70-123, dated October 2004.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI, the French Direction 
g[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l' aviation civile (DGAC) AD No. F-2004-
175, dated November 10, 2004, as follows:
    (1) The requirement of paragraph 3.1 of DGAC AD No. F-2004-175, 
dated November 10, 2004, was based on the urgency in November 2004. 
However, in 2007, this action is not necessary.
    (2) For the requirement of paragraph 3.2 of DGAC AD No. F-2004-
175, dated November 10, 2004, the FAA has determined the seriousness 
of the condition does not warrant a compliance time of 25 hours TIS; 
we require instead a compliance time of 50 hours TIS.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (f) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 
329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned 
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

    (g) Refer to Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l' Aviation 
Civile Airworthiness Directive No. F-2004-175, dated November 10, 
2004 (the MCAI); and EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Alert 
Service Bulletin SB 70-123, dated October 2004, for related 
information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Alert 
Service Bulletin SB 70-123, dated October 2004, to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact EADS 
SOCATA, Direction des Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, France; 
telephone: 33 (0)5 62.41.73.00; fax: 33 (0)5 62.41.76.54; or SOCATA 
AIRCRAFT, INC., North Perry Airport, 7501 Airport Road, Pembroke 
Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax (954) 964-4141.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; or 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 9, 2007.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4736 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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