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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52215-52217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21283]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3642; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-028-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
SOCATA Models TB 9, TB 10, TB 20, TB 21, and TB 200 airplanes. This 
proposed AD results from 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 corrosion of the horizontal 
stabilizer. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 13, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
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 
North America, North Perry Airport, 7501 S Airport Rd., Pembroke Pines, 
Florida 33023, telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 964-4141; 
Internet: http://www.socata.com. You may review 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3642; 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 this proposed AD, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
albert.mercado@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 52216]]

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-3642; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-028-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No.: 2015-0130, dated July 7, 2015 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    During accomplishment of SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) SB10-152-
55 at original issue, some operators reported finding heavy 
corrosion of the horizontal stabilizer (HS) spar.
    The results of the technical investigation have identified that 
the corrosion was caused by humidity ingress in the HS on aeroplanes 
subject to severe environmental conditions.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
buckling and permanent HS distortion, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the aeroplane.
    To address this unsafe condition, SOCATA issued SB 10-152-55 
Revision 1 to provide instructions for inspection and corrective 
action.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires repetitive 
inspections of the affected area of the HS and, depending on 
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3642.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    SOCATA has issued DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 10-152, Amendment 1, dated April 2015. The service 
information describes procedures for inspection for corrosion on 
horizontal stabilizer spar and repair, if necessary. 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 of this NPRM.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 195 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 proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $33,150, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 15 to 38 work-hours and require parts costing $250 to $400 
depending on the type of repair, for a cost of $2,325 to $4,280 per 
product. The cost may vary depending on the extent of damage found. 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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed 
regulation:
    (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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:

SOCATA: Docket No. FAA-2015-3642; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-
028-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 13, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to SOCATA Models TB 9, TB 10, TB 20, TB 21, and 
TB 200 airplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers, certificated in 
any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizers.

[[Page 52217]]

(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 humidity in the 
horizontal stabilizer on airplanes subject to severe environmental 
conditions. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion 
of the horizontal stabilizer (HS) spar, which could lead to result 
in buckling and permanent HS distortion, possibly resulting in 
reduced control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through 
(f)(5) of this AD:
    (1) Within 13 months after the effective date of this AD and 
repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 72 months, do a 
special detailed inspection of the HS spar following the 
instructions of DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB 10-152, Amendment 1, dated April 2015.
    (2) If no discrepancy is detected during any inspections 
required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, protect the HS spar 
following the instructions of DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory 
Service Bulletin SB 10-152, Amendment 1, dated April 2015.
    (3) If any discrepancy is detected during any inspection 
required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, do 
the applicable corrective action(s) following the instructions of 
DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-152, 
Amendment 1, dated April 2015.
    (4) Accomplishment of protection or corrective actions on an 
airplane as required by paragraph (f)(2) or (f)(3) of this AD, as 
applicable, does not constitute terminating action for the 
repetitive inspections as required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD 
for that airplane.
    (5) Inspections and corrective actions on an airplane, done 
before the effective date of this AD following the instructions of 
DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft Recommended Service Bulletin SB 10-152, 
dated May 2013, are acceptable to comply with the requirements of 
this AD for that airplane. After the effective date of this AD, 
repetitive inspections and applicable corrective actions, as 
required by this AD, must be done as required by paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD following the instructions of DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-152, Amendment 1, dated April 2015.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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; email: 
albert.mercado@faa.gov. 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. 
2015-0130, dated July 7, 2015; and DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft 
Recommended Service Bulletin SB 10-152, dated May 2013, for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2015-3642. For service information related to this AD, contact 
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 
North America, North Perry Airport, 7501 S Airport Rd., Pembroke 
Pines, Florida 33023, telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 964-
4141; Internet: http://www.socata.com. You may review 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 20, 2015.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21283 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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