E7-706. Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA-Groupe Aerospatiale TB 20 and TB 21 Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 reports of interference between the wing spar lower boom and the wheel fairing attaching screw. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective February 26, 2007.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Streamlined Issuance of AD

The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance of ADs related to MCAI. The streamlined process will allow us to adopt MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.

This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 22, 2006 (71 FR 67506). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states that there are reports of interference between the wing spar lower boom and the wheel fairing attaching screw causing an unsafe condition. The interference could, if left uncorrected, reduce the fatigue life of the wing spar with potentially catastrophic results.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Comment Issue: Cost of Compliance

EADS SOCATA states:

Application of SB10-148-57 does not require specific part. So, the cost is negligible. EADS SOCATA estimates that it would take 1 work-hour to inspect and displace the screw. If repair is necessary, the cost depends on the damage.

Our cost estimate included both the inspection and screw displacement costs as well as repair costs. We developed the repair cost estimate based on the information provided and assumed the worst case scenario if a repair was required. Since EADS SOCATA did not provide an estimate (work-hours or parts cost) if a repair is required and the FAA is required to provide this estimate to the public, we are keeping the language the same as the NPRM to account for worst case repair situations.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This 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 required different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are described in a separate paragraph of the AD, and take precedence over the actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 270 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 15 work-hours per product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $15,000 per product. Where the service information lists required parts costs that are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $4,374,000, or $16,200 per product.

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 AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:

(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 Flexibility Act.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.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 the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-02-04 SOCATA-Groupe Aerospatiale: Amendment 39-14891; Docket No. FAA-2006-26236; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-66-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 26, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to SOCATA Models TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes, serial numbers 1 through 9999 without repair REP 20.031 implemented on both sides, certificated in any category.

Reason

(d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states there are reports of interference between the wing spar lower boom and the wheel fairing attaching screw causing an unsafe condition. The interference could, if left uncorrected, reduce the fatigue life of the wing spar with potentially catastrophic results. The MCAI requires inspections and repairs as necessary to correct this unsafe condition.

Actions and Compliance

(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service or 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform an inspection of the wing spar lower boom and repair it as necessary, in accordance with the accomplishment instructions of the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005.

(2) If defect dimensions exceed the acceptable values given in the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, or if the defect is not located in areas depicted in figure 2 of the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, then the Type 1 or Type 2 repair solutions are not applicable. A written report shall be sent to the manufacturer as mentioned in section A.5 of the EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005. In this case, all flight is prohibited until EADS SOCATA provides a repair solution or otherwise agrees to further flight.

FAA AD Differences

Note:

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

Other FAA AD Provisions

(f) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone], has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(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, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(g) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness Directive No.: 2006-0123, dated May 16, 2006; and EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(h) You must use EADS SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 10-148, ATA No. 57, dated December 2005, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact EADS SOCATA, Direction des Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, France; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; or SOCATA Aircraft, INC., North Perry Airport, 7501 Airport Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 11, 2007.

Kim Smith,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.