Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA-Groupe Aerospatiale TB 20 and TB 21 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 13 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2606-2608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-706]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26236 Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-66-AD; 
Amendment 39-14891; AD 2007-02-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA-Groupe Aerospatiale TB 20 and TB 
21 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 reports of 
interference between the wing spar lower boom and the wheel fairing 
attaching screw. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 26, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 26, 
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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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 22, 2006 
(71 FR 67506). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for 
the specified products. The MCAI states that there are reports of 
interference between the wing spar lower boom and the wheel fairing 
attaching screw causing an unsafe condition. The interference could, if 
left uncorrected, reduce the fatigue life of the wing spar with 
potentially catastrophic results.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Comment Issue: Cost of Compliance

    EADS SOCATA states:

    Application of SB10-148-57 does not require specific part. So, 
the cost is negligible. EADS SOCATA estimates that it would take 1 
work-hour to inspect and displace the screw. If repair is necessary, 
the cost depends on the damage.

    Our cost estimate included both the inspection and screw 
displacement costs as well as repair costs. We developed the repair 
cost estimate based on the information provided and assumed the worst 
case scenario if a repair was required. Since EADS SOCATA did not 
provide an estimate (work-hours or parts cost) if a repair is required 
and the FAA is required to provide this estimate to the public, we are 
keeping the language the same as the NPRM to account for worst case 
repair situations.

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 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, and take precedence over 
the actions copied from the MCAI.

[[Page 2607]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 270 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 15 work-hours per product to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. 
Required parts will cost about $15,000 per product. 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 $4,374,000, or 
$16,200 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:

2007-02-04 SOCATA-Groupe Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-14891; Docket 
No. FAA-2006-26236; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-66-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 
26, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to SOCATA Models TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes, 
serial numbers 1 through 9999 without repair REP 20.031 implemented 
on both sides, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states there are reports of interference between the wing spar lower 
boom and the wheel fairing attaching screw causing an unsafe 
condition. The interference could, if left uncorrected, reduce the 
fatigue life of the wing spar with potentially catastrophic results. 
The MCAI requires inspections and repairs as necessary to correct 
this unsafe condition.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service or 12 months after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform an 
inspection of the wing spar lower boom and repair it as necessary, 
in accordance with the accomplishment instructions of the EADS 
SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, 
dated December 2005.
    (2) If defect dimensions exceed the acceptable values given in 
the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, 
ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, or if the defect is not located in 
areas depicted in figure 2 of the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory 
Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, then 
the Type 1 or Type 2 repair solutions are not applicable. A written 
report shall be sent to the manufacturer as mentioned in section A.5 
of the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, 
ATA No. 57, dated December 2005. In this case, all flight is 
prohibited until EADS SOCATA provides a repair solution or otherwise 
agrees to further flight.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
Airworthiness Directive No.: 2006-0123, dated May 16, 2006; and EADS 
SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, 
dated December 2005, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, 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

[[Page 2608]]

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 January 11, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-706 Filed 1-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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