DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3642; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-028-AD;
Amendment 39-18335; AD 2015-24-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for SOCATA
Model TB 9, TB 10, TB 20, TB 21, and TB 200 airplanes. 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 corrosion of the horizontal stabilizer. We are issuing
this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 4, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 4,
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3642; or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
For service information identified in this AD, contact SOCATA NORTH
AMERICA, North Perry Airport, 601 NE 10 Street, Pompano Beach, Florida
33060; phone: (954) 366-3331; Internet: http://www.socatanorthamerica.
com/default.htm. You may view this referenced
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No.
FAA-2015-3642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
albert.mercado@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to SOCATA Models TB 9, TB 10,
TB 20, TB 21, and TB 200 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on August 28, 2015 (80 FR 52215). The NPRM proposed to
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an
aviation authority of another country. The MCAI states:

During accomplishment of SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) SB10-152-
55 at original issue, some operators reported finding heavy
corrosion of the horizontal stabilizer (HS) spar.
The results of the technical investigation have identified that
the corrosion was caused by humidity ingress in the HS on aeroplanes
subject to severe environmental conditions.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in
buckling and permanent HS distortion, possibly resulting in reduced
control of the aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, SOCATA issued SB 10-152-55
Revision 1 to provide instructions for inspection and corrective
action.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires repetitive
inspections of the affected area of the HS and, depending on
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-3642-0001.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal
and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request

Anthony Pynes commented that that he does not believe the
methodology used and the foundational data available supports the need
for this AD, and thus he believes that this AD is not necessary.
We do not agree. The FAA, in working with the State of Design
airworthiness authority (EASA), determined that the actions of this AD
on the horizontal stabilizer of the affected airplanes are necessary to
correct an unsafe condition. Included in this is the risk in
establishing such actions at the required compliance times. No changes
to the AD have been made based on this comment.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have determined
that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (80 FR 52215, August 28, 2015) for correcting the unsafe
condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 52215, August 28, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed DAHER-SOCATA TB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB
10-152, Amendment 1, dated April 2015. The service information
describes procedures for inspection for corrosion on the horizontal
stabilizer spar and repair, if necessary. This service information is
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in
the ADDRESSES section of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 195 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $33,150, or $170 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 15 to 38 work-hours and require parts costing $250 to $400
depending on the type of repair, for a cost of $2,325 to $4,280 per
product. The cost may vary depending on the extent of damage found. We
have no way of determining the number of products that may need these
actions.

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 the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3642; 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 (800) 647-5527) 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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD: