E8-12818. Airworthiness Directives; EADS SOCATA Model TBM 700 Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. 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 rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant compartment.

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 July 9, 2008.

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: [phone].
• 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.

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 [phone]) 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: [phone]; fax: [phone].

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-2008-0627; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-033-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://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 EASA AD No.: 2008-0067-E, dated April 3, 2008 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

A rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant compartment.

To address this condition, AD 2008-0063-E had been published to require a check of the pulley drive assembly for leakage and, as an interim action, removal of the compressor drive belt from the assembly, and adoption of a new operational procedure to keep the air-conditioning system deactivated.

This AD retains the requirements of AD 2008-0063-E which is superseded, introduces a mandatory terminating action which consists in replacing the original pulley drive assembly by a new one of an improved design—corresponding to the EADS SOCATA modification MOD 70-0231-21—that permits reinstallation of the compressor drive belt.

The MCAI requires you to deactivate the air conditioning system, inspect the pulley drive assembly for leaks, and replace the pulley drive assembly (P/N) T700G215504900000 with the new P/N T700G215505710000 either immediately if leaks are found or at a certain time if no leaks are found.

On April 30, 2008, we issued AD 2008-10-13, Amendment 39-15520 (73 FR 26318; May 9, 2008). AD 2008-10-13 was issued as an interim action in order to address the need to deactivate the air conditioning system, inspect the pulley drive assembly for leaks, and replace the pulley drive assembly if leaks are found.

The Administrative Procedure Act does not permit the FAA to “bootstrap” a long-term requirement into an urgent safety of flight action where the rule becomes effective at the same time the public has the opportunity to comment. The short-term action and the long-term action were analyzed separately for justification to bypass prior public notice.

We are issuing this proposed AD to address the mandatory long-term action of replacing the pulley drive assembly.

Relevant Service Information

EADS SOCATA has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-156, Amendment 1, dated March 2008. 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

Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD will affect 21 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 10 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $2,912 per product.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $77,952, or $3,712 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 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
• 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-15520 (73 FR 26318; May 9, 2008), and adding the following new AD:

EADS SOCATA: Docket No. FAA-2008-0627; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-033-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by July 9, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-10-13, Amendment 39-15520.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Models TBM 700 airplanes, serial numbers 434 through 455, certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 24: Electric Power.

Reason

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

A rupture of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling system pulley drive assembly has reportedly been found. Such a failure could lead to the loss of the alternator and vapour cycle cooling systems and could also cause mechanical damage inside the powerplant compartment.

To address this condition, AD 2008-0063-E had been published to require a check of the pulley drive assembly for leakage and, as an interim action, removal of the compressor drive belt from the assembly, and adoption of a new operational procedure to keep the air-conditioning system deactivated.

This AD retains the requirements of AD 2008-0063-E which is superseded, introduces a mandatory terminating action which consists in replacing the original pulley drive assembly by a new one of an improved design—corresponding to the EADS SOCATA modification MOD 70-0231-21—that permits reinstallation of the compressor drive belt.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following before further flight after May 9, 2008 (the compliance date retained from AD 2008-10-13):

(1) Position to “OFF” the air-conditioning “AIR COND” switch.

(2) Inspect for oil leakage in the pulley drive assembly by following EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008.

(i) If any leak is found, before further flight after the inspection, replace the pulley drive assembly part number (P/N) T700G215504900000 with P/N T700G215505710000 following EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008.

(ii) If no leak is found, before further flight, remove the compressor drive belt from the pulley drive assembly following either EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156, original issue; or EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156, Amendment 1; both dated March 2008.

(3) The air-conditioning “AIR COND” switch must be in the “OFF” position and the compressor drive belt must remain removed until the pulley drive assembly part number (P/N) T700G215504900000 is replaced with P/N T700G215505710000 following EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008. This replacement must be done before further flight if any leak is found and may be done at any time as terminating action to this AD.

(g) Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, unless already done, replace the pulley drive assembly P/N T700G215504900000 with P/N T700G215505710000 and reinstall the compressor drive belt, following EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008.

FAA AD Differences

Note:

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

Other FAA AD Provisions

(h) 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: [phone]; fax: [phone]. 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, 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.

Special Flight Permit

(i) Under 14 CFR 39.23, we are limiting the special flight permits for the check of equipment of this AD under the following condition: The air-conditioning “AIR-COND” switch is set to the “OFF” position.

Related Information

(j) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No.: 2008-0067-E, dated April 3, 2008, and EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 70-156 Amendment 1, dated March 2008, for related information.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 2, 2008.

David R. Showers,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.