DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1069; Project Identifier 2018-CE-039-AD; Amendment
39-21854; AD 2021-25-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Daher Aerospace (Type Certificate
Previously Held by SOCATA) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Daher Aerospace (type certificate previously held by SOCATA)
(Daher) Model TBM 700 airplanes. This 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 unsafe condition that is the
subject of the MCAI is ice accumulation on the oil cooler air inlet
duct fin. This AD requires modifying the oil cooler air induction duct.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 24, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 24,
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Daher Aerospace Inc., Pompano Beach Airpark, 601 NE 10 Street,
Pompano Beach, FL 33060; phone: (954) 893-1400; website: https://www.tbm.aero.
You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2020-1069.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1069; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the
MCAI, any comments received, and other information. The address for
Docket Operations is 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Johnson, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone:
(720) 626-5462; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: greg.johnson@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Daher Model TBM 700
airplanes with certain oil cooler air induction ducts installed. The
NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 18, 2021 (86 FR
46160). The NPRM was based on MCAI from the European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union. EASA issued AD 2018-0133, dated June 22, 2018, and
corrected June 25, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to
address the unsafe condition on certain Daher Model TBM 700 airplanes.
The MCAI states:

During flight testing in icing conditions, oil temperature
increase was observed. Subsequent investigation determined that the
loss of efficiency of the oil cooler system was due to ice
accumulation on the engine air induction duct fins.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to uncommanded
engine in-flight shut-down and reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, DAHER AEROSPACE
developed MOD 70-0616-79 for aeroplanes in production, removing the
4 upper fins of the oil cooler air induction duct to avoid ice
accumulation, available for in-service aeroplanes through the SB
[Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin 70-254, dated April 18, 2018].
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
modification of the oil cooler air induction duct.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1069.
Although the unsafe condition statement in the MCAI identifies the
cause as ice accumulation on the engine air induction fin, the FAA has
determined that this does not accurately identify the affected air
path. The affected area is the oil cooler air inlet duct fin.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require modifying the oil cooler
air induction duct. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent ice from
accumulating on the oil cooler air induction duct fins, which could
lead to an increase in oil temperature, uncommanded engine inflight
shutdown, and reduced airplane control.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.

Conclusion

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined
that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 70-254, dated
April 2018. The service information specifies procedures for removing
the four upper fins of the oil cooler air induction duct and for re-
identifying the oil cooler air induction duct with a new part number.
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.

Other Related Service Information

The FAA also reviewed Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 70-231,
Revision 1, dated July 2018; and Daher Aerospace Service Bulletin SB
70-219, Revision 2, dated July 2018. The service information identifies
the kit number and installation procedures for replacing the oil cooler
air induction duct.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect up to 807 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 3 work-
hours per airplane to comply with the requirements of this AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about
$50 per airplane.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the total cost of this AD
on U.S. operators to be $246,135 or $305 per airplane.

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.
The FAA is 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

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

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 airworthiness
directive: