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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 16, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50706-50708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20820]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0868; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-027-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 
certain SOCATA Model TBM 700 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:

    A TBM700 operator reported an occurrence where, as a result of 
handling the standby compass lighting bulb cover in flight, both 
essential bus bars (ESS BUS 1 and ESS BUS 2) failed, leading to loss 
of a number of instruments and navigation systems.
    The technical investigations carried out by SOCATA have shown 
that the cause of this occurrence was that the electrical protection 
of some TBM 700 aeroplanes is insufficient to allow in-flight 
handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
    This condition, if not corrected, may compromise the ability of 
the pilot to safely operate the aeroplane under certain flight 
conditions due to the increase of workload.

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the 
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 30, 
2011.

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 7-54; or in the 
United States contact SOCATA North America, Inc., North Perry Airport, 
7501 South Airport Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: 
(954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 964-4141; Internet: http://www.socatanorthamerica.com. You may review copies of the 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; 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 Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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-2011-0868; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-027-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://www.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. 2011-0130, dated July 8, 2011 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    A TBM700 operator reported an occurrence where, as a result of 
handling the standby compass lighting bulb cover in flight, both 
essential bus bars (ESS BUS 1 and ESS BUS 2) failed, leading to loss 
of a number of instruments and navigation systems.
    The technical investigations carried out by SOCATA have shown 
that the cause of this occurrence was that the electrical protection 
of some TBM 700 aeroplanes is insufficient to allow in-flight 
handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
    This condition, if not corrected, may compromise the ability of 
the pilot to safely operate the aeroplane under certain flight 
conditions due to the increase of workload.
    To address this unsafe condition, SOCATA have developed a 
modification which consists of installing a protection fuse on the 
wire at the standby compass connector, introduced by SOCATA Service 
Bulletin (SB) 70-192-34.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires installation 
of a protection of the electrical wire at the standby compass 
connector.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    DAHER-SOCATA has issued TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB

[[Page 50707]]

 70-192, dated April 2011. The actions described in this service 
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in 
the MCAI.

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.

Differences Between This Proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 124 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $350 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $53,940 or $435 per product.
    According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this proposed AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

SOCATA: Docket No. FAA-2011-0868; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-
027-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by September 30, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes, serial 
numbers 148, 434 through 572, 574, and 576, certificated in any 
category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 34: 
Navigation.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:

    A TBM700 operator reported an occurrence where, as a result of 
handling the standby compass lighting bulb cover in flight, both 
essential bus bars (ESS BUS 1 and ESS BUS 2) failed, leading to loss 
of a number of instruments and navigation systems.
    The technical investigations carried out by SOCATA have shown 
that the cause of this occurrence was that the electrical protection 
of some TBM 700 aeroplanes is insufficient to allow in-flight 
handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
    This condition, if not corrected, may compromise the ability of 
the pilot to safely operate the aeroplane under certain flight 
conditions due to the increase of workload.
    To address this unsafe condition, SOCATA have developed a 
modification which consists of installing a protection fuse on the 
wire at the standby compass connector, introduced by SOCATA Service 
Bulletin (SB) 70-192-34.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires installation 
of a protection of the electrical wire at the standby compass 
connector.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, within 6 months after the effective 
date of this AD, install a protection fuse on the wire at the 
standby compass connector following the Accomplishment Instructions 
in DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-192, 
dated April 2011.

FAA AD Differences

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

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) 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-

[[Page 50708]]

4090; e-mail: [email protected]. 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, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2011-0130, dated July 8, 2011; and DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-192, dated April 2011, for related 
information. 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 7-54; or in the 
United States contact SOCATA North America, Inc., North Perry 
Airport, 7501 South Airport Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; 
telephone: (954) 893-1400; fax: (954) 964-4141; Internet: http://www.socatanorthamerica.com. You may review copies of the 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 9, 2011.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20820 Filed 8-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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