This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

34830

Vol. 63, No. 123

Friday, June 26, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95–CE–64–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA—

Groupe AEROSPATIALE Models TB20,

and TB21 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) Models TB20 and TB21

airplanes. The proposed action would

require repetitively inspecting the main

landing gear (MLG) attachment bearing

(using a dye penetrant method) for

cracks, and if cracks are found,

replacing the bearing. The proposed AD

is the result of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information (MCAI)

issued by the airworthiness authority for

France. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent

cracks in the MLG attachment bearing,

which could result in collapse of the

main landing gear during taxi and

landing operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 95–CE–64–

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,

SOCATA—Groupe AEROSPATIALE,

North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke

Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023;

telephone: (954) 964–6877; facsimile:

(954) 964–1668. This information also

may be examined at the Rules Docket at

the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 95–CE–64–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

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 95–CE–64–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,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Socata

Models TB20 and TB21 airplanes. The

DGAC reports that some MLG’s have

collapsed due to failed MLG attachment

bearings. Further analysis of the failed

MLG attachment bearings revealed

cracks which are due to fatigue.

These conditions, if not detected and

corrected, could result in collapse of the

airplane’s main landing gear during taxi

or landing operations.

Relevant Service Information

Socata has issued Service Bulletin No.

SB 10–080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November

1995, which specifies procedures for

repetitively inspecting (using a dye

penetrant method) the MLG attachment

bearing for cracks. If cracks are found in

the attachment bearing, the service

information specifies procedures for

replacing the bearing.

The DGAC classified this service

bulletin as mandatory and issued

French AD 94–266(A)R2, dated

December 6, 1995, in order to assure the

continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in France.

The FAA’s Determination

These airplane models are

manufactured in France and are 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 Models TB20
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 1998 / Proposed Rules 34831

and TB21 airplanes of the same type

design registered in the United States,

the FAA is proposing AD action. The

proposed AD would require repetitively

inspecting (using a dye penetrant

method) for cracks on the MLG

attachment bearing. If cracks are found,

the proposed AD would require

replacing the cracked attachment

bearing. Accomplishment of the

proposed inspections and replacement

would be in accordance with Socata

Service Bulletin No. SB 10–080 57,

Amdt. 2, dated November 1995.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 199 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD.

Accomplishing the proposed

inspection would take approximately 4

workhours per airplane, and the average

labor rate is approximately $60 an hour.

Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed inspection on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

$47,760, or $240 per airplane.

The proposed replacement would take

approximately 1 workhour to replace

the bearing, if necessary, at an average

labor rate of $60 per hour. Parts cost

approximately $800 per airplane. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed modification on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $171,140 or

$860 per airplane.

The FAA has no way to determine the

number of repetitive inspections that

would be incurred over the life of the

airplane.

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 U.S.C. 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.

95–CE–64–AD.

Applicability: Models TB20 and TB21

airplanes, serial numbers 1 through 9999,

certificated in any category.

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 (c) 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.

Compliance: Required as indicated in the

body of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent cracks in the main landing gear

(MLG) attachment bearing, which could

result in collapse of the MLG during taxi and

landing operations, accomplish the

following:

Note 2: The compliance times of this AD

are presented in landings instead of hours

time-in-service (TIS). If the number of

landings is unknown, hours TIS may be used

by multiplying the number of hours TIS by

1.5.

(a) Upon the accumulation of 6,000

landings, upon the accumulation of 4,000

hours total TIS, or within the next 100 hours

TIS after the effective date of this AD,

whichever occurs later, inspect (with a dye

penetrant method) the main landing gear

(MLG) attachment bearing for cracks in

accordance with the Accomplishment

Instructions in SOCATA Service Bulletin

(SB) No. SB 10–080 57, Amdt. 2, dated

November 1995;

(1) If no cracks are found, continue to

inspect the MLG attachment bearing for

cracks at intervals not to exceed 1,500

landings or 1,000 hours TIS, whichever

occurs later, until cracks are found, in

accordance with the Accomplishment

Instructions in the SOCATA SB No. SB 10–

080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November 1995;

(2) If cracks are found in the MLG

attachment bearing during any inspection

required by this AD, prior to further flight,

replace the MLG attachment bearing in

accordance with the Accomplishment

Instructions in the SOCATA SB No. SB 10–

080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November 1995; and

(3) Upon the accumulation of 6,000

landings or 4,000 hours TIS after the date of

any MLG attachment bearing replacement,

whichever occurs later, and thereafter at

intervals not to exceed 1,500 landings or

1,000 hours TIS, inspect the MLG attachment

bearing for cracks as specified in paragraph

(a) of this AD.

(b) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with §§ 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.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the initial or repetitive

compliance times that provides an equivalent

level of safety may be approved by the

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA,

1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106. The request shall be

forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(d) Questions or technical information

related to Socata Service Bulletin No. SB 10–

080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November 1995,

should be directed the SOCATA—Groupe

AEROSPATIALE, Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P

930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone:

33.5.62.41.73.58; facsimile: 33.5.62.41.74.18;

or the Product Support Manager, SOCATA—

Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry

Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road, Pembroke

Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893–

1160; facsimile: (954) 964–4141. This service

information may be examined at the FAA,

Central Region, Office of the Regional

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

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French AD 94–266(A)R2, dated December

6, 1995.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June

19, 1998.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–17019 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

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