Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 17125

flight control systems might be

susceptible to 3 Hz. square wave

modulation while the video signals for

CRT displays may be susceptible to 400

Hz sinusoidal modulation. If the worst

case modulation is unknown or cannot

be determined, default modulations can

be used. Suggested default values are 1

KHz sine wave with 80% depth of

modulation in the frequency range from

10 KHz to 400 MHz and 1 KHz square

wave with greater than 90% depth of

modulation from 400 MHz to 18 GHz.

For frequencies where the unmodulated

signal caused deviations from normal

operation of the EUT, several different

modulating signals with various waveforms and frequencies should be

applied. Modern laboratory equipment

may not be able to continuously scan

the spectrum in the manner of analog

equipment. These units will only

generate discrete frequencies. For such

equipment, the number of test points

and the dwell time at each test point

must be specified. For each decade of

the frequency test spectrum (a ten times

increase in frequency i.e. 10 Kz to 100

KHz) there should be at least 25 test

points, and for the decades from 10

MHz to 100 MHz, and 100 MHz to 1

GHz there should be a minimum of 180

test points each. The dwell time at each

test point should be at least 0.5 second.

(6) Data Submittal: An

accomplishment report should be

submitted to the Aviation Register

showing fulfillment of the HIRF energy

protection requirements. This report

should contain test results, analysis and

other pertinent data.

(7) Maintenance Requirements: The

applicant (manufacturer) must provide

maintenance requirements to assure the

continued airworthiness of the installed

system(s).

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March

18, 1997.

Ronald T. Wojnar,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service, ANM–100.

[FR Doc. 97–9143 Filed 4–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–15–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; SOCATAGroupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM

700 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain

SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE

(Socata) Model TBM 700 airplanes that

do not have MOD 70–065–32

incorporated. This proposed AD would

require removing the MLG inboard

doors and the door locking control

mechanism (MOD 70–065–32). This AD

is the result of an incident on one of the

affected airplanes where the MLG

inboard door locking hooks (hinges)

corroded, caused the doors to jam, and

prevented the MLG from extending.

Analysis has shown that removing the

MLG inboard doors will not cause any

airplane safety or performance

problems. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent

failure of the MLG to extend because of

corroded MLG inboard locking hinges,

which could result in loss of control of

the airplane during landing operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before June 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–15–

AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from the

SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE,

Socata Product Support, Aeroport

Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930, 65009

Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone

62.41.74.26; facsimile 62.41.74.32; or

the Product Support Manager, U.S.

AEROSPATIALE, 2701 Forum Drive,

Grand Prairie, Texas 75053; telephone

(214) 641–3614; facsimile (214) 641–

3527. This information also may be

examined at the Rules Docket at the

address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

William J. Timberlake, Program Officer,

Brussels Aircraft Certification Division,

FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East

Office, c/o American Embassy, B–1000

Brussels, Belgium; telephone (32 2)

513.38.30; facsimile (32 2) 230.68.99; or

Mr. Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane

Directorate, 1201 Walnut Street, suite

900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;

telephone (816) 426–6934; facsimile

(816) 426–2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified above. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice may

be changed in light of the comments

received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 97–CE–15–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:

Rules Docket No. 97–CE–15–AD, Room

1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

recently notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Socata

Model TBM 700 airplanes. The DGAC
17126 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

reports incidents where the MLG

inboard door locking hooks (hinges)

corroded, caused the doors to jam, and

prevented the MLG from extending.

These hinges are exposed to slush/

debris while landing in certain runway

environments. This slush/debris can

lead to corrosion in this area or interfere

with the ability to extend the MLG.

These conditions, if not detected and

corrected, could result in loss of control

of the airplane during landing

operations.

Analysis submitted to the FAA

reveals that removing the MLG inboard

doors on these Socata Model TBM 700

airplanes will not cause any safety or

performance problems.

Relevant Service Information

Socata has issued Service Bulletin

(SB) 70–073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996,

which specifies removing the MLG

inboard doors and the door locking

control mechanism (MOD 70–065–32)

on Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes.

Socata has also issued Technical

Instruction of Modification OPT70

KO59–32, dated December 1995, which

includes procedures for incorporating

MOD 70–065–32 on the affected

airplanes.

The DGAC classified the abovereferenced service information as

mandatory and issued DGAC AD No.

96–037(B)R1, dated July 17, 1996, in

order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in

France.

The FAA’s Determination

This airplane model is manufactured

in France and is type certificated for

operation in the United States under the

provisions of section 21.29 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the DGAC has kept the FAA informed

of the situation described above. The

FAA has examined the findings of the

DGAC; reviewed all available

information, including the service

information referenced above; and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Socata Model TBM 700

airplanes of the same type design that

are registered in the United States and

do not have MOD 70–065–32

incorporated, the FAA is proposing AD

action. The proposed AD would require

removing the MLG inboard doors and

the door locking control mechanism

(MOD 70–065–32). Accomplishment of

the proposed actions would be in

accordance with the Technical

Instruction of Modification OPT70

KO59–32, dated December 1995, as

referenced in Socata SB Socata 70–073,

Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

The unsafe condition specified in this

proposed AD develops primarily

because of slush/debris accumulating in

the MLG inboard doors area while

landing in certain runway

environments. An airplane previously

operated in these conditions could have

already-developed corrosion, regardless

of future airplane operation. For this

reason, the FAA has determined that the

compliance time of the proposed AD

should be specified in both hours timein-service (TIS) and calendar time

(whichever occurs first), in order to

assure that corrosion is not allowed to

go undetected over time.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 47 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 3 workhours per airplane

to accomplish the proposed action, and

that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Socata will

provide parts at no cost to the owners/

operators of the affected airplanes.

Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $8,460. This

figure is based on the presumption that

no owner/operator of the affected

airplanes has accomplished the

proposed actions.

Socata has informed the FAA that

parts have been distributed to equip

approximately 30 of the affected

airplanes. Presuming that each set of

parts is incorporated on an affected

airplane, the cost impact upon U.S.

airplane owners/operators would be

reduced by $5,400 from $8,460 to

$3,060.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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. Therefore,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (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) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action has been placed in the Rules

Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

Socata-Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No. 97–

CE–15–AD.

Applicability: Model TBM 700 airplanes

(serial numbers 1 through 109), certificated

in any category, that do not have the main

landing gear (MLG) inboard doors and the

door locking control mechanism removed

(MOD 70–065–32) in accordance with the

Technical Instruction of Modification OPT70

KO59–32, dated December 1995, as

referenced in Socata SB Socata 70–073,

Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 17127

Compliance: Required within the next 100

hours time-in-service after the effective date

of this AD or within the next 6 calendar

months after the effective date of this AD,

whichever occurs first, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent failure of the MLG to extend

because of corroded MLG inboard locking

hinges, which could result in loss of control

of the airplane during landing operations,

accomplish the following:

(a) Remove the MLG inboard doors and the

door locking control mechanism (MOD 70–

065–32) in accordance with the Technical

Instruction of Modification OPT70 KO59–32,

dated December 1995, as referenced in Socata

SB Socata 70–073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person may remove MOD 70–065–32 on any

affected airplane, by reinstalling the MLG

inboard doors and the door locking control

mechanism.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft

Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa,

and Middle East Office, c/o American

Embassy, B–1000 Brussels, Belgium. The

request shall be forwarded through an

appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector,

who may add comments and then send it to

the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification

Division.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Brussels Aircraft

Certification Division.

(e) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the document referred

to herein upon request to the SOCATA

Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product

Support, Aeroport Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B

P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or the

Product Support Manager, U.S.

AEROSPATIALE, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand

Prairie, Texas 75053; or may examine this

document at the FAA, Central Region, Office

of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April

2, 1997.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–8995 Filed 4–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–NM–130–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model

SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

supersedure of an existing airworthiness

directive (AD), applicable to certain

Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB

340B series airplanes, that currently

requires inspections to detect improper

connections of the wire harness

installation to the cartridges of the fire

extinguishers in the engine nacelles,

correction of any discrepancy, and

modification of the wiring. This action

would add a revised modification of

that wiring, which, if accomplished,

would terminate the inspections

currently required by the existing AD.

This proposal is prompted by reports

indicating that, due to the removal of a

certain clamp during maintenance,

these fire extinguisher cartridges still

could be connected incorrectly after the

modification required by the existing

AD has been accomplished. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent incorrect wiring of

these cartridges, which would result in

inability of the fire extinguishers to

jointly discharge extinguishing agent

into a nacelle in the event of an engine

fire.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 19, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 96–NM–

130–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

SAAB Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Linko ̈ping,

Sweden. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ruth Harder, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(206) 227–1721; fax (206) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 96–NM–130–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–103, Attention: Rules Docket No.

96–NM–130–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

On January 26, 1994, the FAA issued

AD 94–03–06, amendment 39–8813 (59

FR 4575, February 1, 1994), applicable

to certain Saab Model SAAB SF340A

and SAAB 340B series airplanes, to

require repetitive inspections to detect

improper connections of the harness

installation to the cartridges of the fire

extinguishers in the engine nacelles. If

an improper connection is found, the

AD requires that it be corrected. This

inspection is to be accomplished on all

airplanes immediately after any

maintenance action that requires