Airworthiness Directives; EADS SOCATA Model TBM 700 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 19, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48286-48288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18813]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0627; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-033-AD; 
Amendment 39-15647; AD 2008-17-09]
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 superseding an existing 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:

    A rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system 
pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure 
could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling 
systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant 
compartment.

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.


DATES: This AD becomes effective September 23, 2008.
    As of September 23, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in this AD.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket 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 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 June 9, 2008 (73 FR 
32495), and proposed to supersede AD 2008-10-13, Amendment 39-15520 (73 
FR 26318, May 9, 2008). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states that:

    A rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system 
pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure 
could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling 
systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant 
compartment.
    To address this condition, AD 2008-0063-E had been published to 
require a check of the pulley drive assembly for leakage and, as an 
interim action, removal of the compressor drive belt from the 
assembly, and adoption of a new operational procedure to keep the 
air-conditioning system deactivated.
    This AD retains the requirements of AD 2008-0063-E which is 
superseded, introduces a mandatory terminating action which consists 
in replacing the original pulley drive assembly by a new one of an 
improved design--corresponding to the EADS SOCATA modification MOD 
70-0231-21--that permits reinstallation of the compressor drive 
belt.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data 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 
highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 21 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 10 work-hours per product to 
comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is 
$80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $2,912 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. 
operators to be $77,952, or $3,712 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

[[Page 48287]]

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://www.regulations.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) 647-5527) 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

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 removing Amendment 39-15520 (73 FR 
26318, May 9, 2008) and adding the following new AD:

2008-17-09 EADS SOCATA: Amendment 39-15647; Docket No. FAA-2008-
0627; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-033-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective 
September 23, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-10-13, Amendment 39-15520.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 
434 through 455, certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 24: Electric 
Power.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    A rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system 
pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure 
could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling 
systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant 
compartment.
    To address this condition, AD 2008-0063-E had been published to 
require a check of the pulley drive assembly for leakage and, as an 
interim action, removal of the compressor drive belt from the 
assembly, and adoption of a new operational procedure to keep the 
air-conditioning system deactivated.
    This AD retains the requirements of AD 2008-0063-E which is 
superseded, introduces a mandatory terminating action which consists 
in replacing the original pulley drive assembly by a new one of an 
improved design--corresponding to the EADS SOCATA modification MOD 
70-0231-21--that permits reinstallation of the compressor drive 
belt.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following before further flight 
after May 9, 2008 (the compliance date retained from AD 2008-10-13):
    (1) Position to ``OFF'' the air-conditioning ``AIR COND'' 
switch.
    (2) Inspect for oil leakage in the pulley drive assembly by 
following EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, 
dated March 2008.
    (i) If any leak is found, before further flight after the 
inspection, replace the pulley drive assembly part number (P/N) 
T700G215504900000 with P/N T700G215505710000 following EADS SOCATA 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008.
    (ii) If no leak is found, before further flight, remove the 
compressor drive belt from the pulley drive assembly following 
either EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156, original issue; 
or EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156, Amendment 1; both 
dated March 2008.
    (3) The air-conditioning ``AIR COND'' switch must be in the 
``OFF'' position and the compressor drive belt must remain removed 
until the pulley drive assembly part number (P/N) T700G215504900000 
is replaced with P/N T700G215505710000 following EADS SOCATA Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008. This 
replacement must be done before further flight if any leak is found 
and may be done at any time as terminating action to this AD.
    (g) Within the next 12 months after September 23, 2008 (the 
effective date of this AD), unless already done, replace the pulley 
drive assembly P/N T700G215504900000 with P/N T700G215505710000 and 
reinstall the compressor drive belt, following EADS SOCATA Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008.

FAA AD Differences

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

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, 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. 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.

Special Flight Permit

    (i) Under 14 CFR 39.23, we are limiting the special flight 
permits for the check of equipment of this AD under the following 
condition: The air-conditioning ``AIR COND'' switch is set to the 
``OFF'' position.

Related Information

    (j) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
Emergency AD No.: 2008-0067-E, dated April 3, 2008, and EADS SOCATA 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008, for 
related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156, 
original issue; or EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156, 
Amendment 1; both dated March 2008, 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 7-54; or in the 
United States contact EADS SOCATA North America, Inc., North Perry 
Airport, 7501 South 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html


[[Page 48288]]


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 7, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-18813 Filed 8-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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