AD 2012-10-14 Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA Airplanes

Makes named: socata. Models named: TBM 700. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes, all serial numbers (S/N), certificated in any category, equipped with one of the following landing gears: (1) Part number (P/N) D23766000 or D23766000-X, serial numbers (S/N) B001 through B373; B375; AR1000 through AR1023; AR1025 through AR1031; AR1033 through AR1036; AAB00000A through AAB13766Z; AAB00000 through AAB13766; and EURXXX; or (2) P/N 21130-001-XY or 21130-000-XY, all S/N.

Unless already done, do the following actions using the Accomplishment Instructions of DAHER-SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-194-32, Amendment 2, dated November 2011, including Erratum, dated December 2011: (1) Although the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) MCAI allows the inspection of the NLG washer to be done by a pilot-owner, the U.S. regulatory system requires all actions of this AD to be done by a certified mechanic. (2) Within 5 flight cycles (FC) after July 23, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), inspect the installed NLG to determine if it is one of the affected P/Ns and S/Ns as listed in paragraph (c) of this AD. (i) If FC data is not available, the use of a one-to-one FC to flight hour conversion must be applied (example: 5 FC equal 5 hours time-in-service (TIS)). (ii) For the purpose of this AD, when an NLG P/N reference is followed by -X or -XY, the X or XY can be any numerical digit, and when an NLG S/N reference is EURXXX, the XXX can be any numerical digit. (3) If during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, you determine the NLG installed is one of the affected P/Ns and S/Ns listed in paragraph (c) of the AD, inspect for free rotation the washer of the NLG. Repetitively thereafter inspect the washer of the NLG for free rotation before every flight until the replacement and landing gear marking required in paragraphs (f)(4)(i) and (f)(4)(ii) or paragraphs (f)(5)(i) and (f)(5)(ii) of this AD are done. (4) If, during any inspection required by paragraph (f)(3) of this AD, the washer of the NLG rotates freely, before further flight, do the following actions: (i) Replace the bolt attaching the actuator hinge axle of the NLG with a serviceable bolt P/N 5101301111. (ii) Mark the landing gear with a green varnish line. (5) For the NLG P/Ns and S/Ns as listed in paragraph (c) of this AD, within 10 months after July 23, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done following a discrepancy identified during any inspection as required by paragraph (f)(3) of this AD, do the following actions: (i) Replace the bolt attaching the actuator hinge axle of the NLG with a serviceable bolt P/N 5101301111 and; (ii) Mark the landing gear with a green varnish line. (6) Replacing of the bolt attaching the actuator hinge axle of the NLG with a serviceable bolt P/N 5101301111 and marking the landing gear with a green varnish line terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (f)(3) of this AD. (7) After July 23, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), do not install an NLG with P/N and S/N as listed in paragraph (c) of this AD, unless the bolt attaching the actuator hinge axle of the NLG has been replaced and the NLG has been marked with a green varnish line following the requirements of this AD.

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: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: albert.mercado@faa.gov. 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, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

This AD was prompted by 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 installation of an incorrect part number during overhaul of the nose landing gear. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct installation of incorrect P/N NLG bolts, which if not corrected could result in NLG collapse with consequent structural damage to the airplane.

None.