AD 95-11-16

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29982-29983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13126]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-26-AD; Amendment 39-9249; AD 95-11-16]


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE TBM 700 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata) TBM 700 
airplanes. This action requires installing pneumatic deicers on the 
elevator horn leading edges. Ice accumulation on one of the affected 
airplanes during flight testing in icing conditions prompted the 
required action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
prevent ice accumulation on the elevator horn, which could lead to loss 
of control of the airplane.

DATES: Effective July 19, 1995.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of July 19, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this 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 
may also be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Raymond A. Stoer, Program Officer, 
Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle 
East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; telephone 
(322) 513.38.30; facsimile (322) 230.68.99; or Mr. Mike Kiesov, 
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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to certain Socata TBM 700 airplanes was published in the Federal 
Register on January 20, 1995 (60 FR 4117). The action proposed to 
require installing pneumatic deicers on the elevator horn leading 
edges. Accomplishment of the proposed installation would be in 
accordance with Socata Technical Instruction of Modification No. OPT70 
K020-30, dated February 1993.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received.
    Socata recommends that AD action is not justified because it 
believes all owners/operators of the affected airplanes have installed 
pneumatic deicers on the elevator horn leading edges. The FAA does not 
concur that AD action is not justified even if all owners/operators may 
have already complied. AD's are issued to assure that each affected 
airplane is in compliance with the action, and that those airplanes 
continue to be in compliance. Even if all owners/operators have 
complied with this action, the AD will ensure that these airplanes 
continue to have these pneumatic deicers installed and that any 
airplanes added to the U.S. registry will have pneumatic deicers 
installed. The AD is unchanged as a result of this comment.
    No comments were received on the FAA's determination of the cost to 
the public.
    After careful review of all available information including the 
comment discussed above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 20 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 25 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost $3,710 per airplane. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $104,200. This figure is based upon the 
assumption that no affected airplane/operator has accomplished the 
required action. Socata has informed the FAA that it believes all 
affected airplane owners/operators have already accomplished the 
required installation. With this in mind, this action will impose no 
cost impact upon U.S. operators.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) will not have a 
significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
[[Page 29983]] Flexibility Act. A copy of the final evaluation prepared 
for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

95-11-16  SOCATA Groupe AEROSPATIALE: Amendment 39-9249; Docket No. 
94-CE-26-AD.

    Applicability: TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 1 to 49, 
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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent ice accumulation on the elevator horn, which could 
lead to loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install pneumatic deicers on the elevator horn leading edges 
in accordance with Socata Technical Instruction of Modification No. 
OPT70 K020-30, dated February 1993. This installation is referenced 
in Socata TBM Service Bulletin SB 70-020-30, dated February 1993.
    (b) 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.
    (c) 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 Office 
(ACO), 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 ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels ACO.

    (d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Socata Technical Instruction of Modification No. 
OPT70 K020-30, dated February 1993. This incorporation by reference 
was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from 
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. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment (39-9249) becomes effective on July 19, 1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 23, 1995.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-13126 Filed 6-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U