AD/TBM 700/49 Emergency Landing Gear By-pass Selector Inspection (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes

AD/TBM 700/49 Emergency Landing Gear By-pass
Selector Inspection 7/2008 TX

Applicability:

EADS Socata TBM 700 N (commercial designation TBM 850) aircraft, serial numbers 364, 367 and 370 to 435 inclusive.

Requirement:

1.    For aircraft on which the affected floor panel has been removed during maintenance and aircraft for which it cannot be determined that any such removal did not occur, check the gap between the landing gear control button and the floor panel in accordance with paragraph (§) A of the Accomplishment Instructions of EADS Socata Service Bulletin (SB) 70-154-53 and, if the gap is found to be insufficient, modify the floor panel in accordance with § C of the Accomplishment Instructions of EADS Socata SB 70-154-53;

2.    For aircraft on which the affected floor panel has not been removed during maintenance, modify the floor panel in accordance with § C of the Accomplishment Instructions of EADS Socata SB 70-154-53.

As specified in § B of the Accomplishment Instructions of EADS Socata SB 70-154-53, a single ferry flight with landing gear extended is allowed to reach a maintenance centre where the inspection/modification as required by § 1 of this AD can be accomplished.

Note 1:  EASA AD 2008-0081-E and EADS Socata Service Bulletin 70-154-53 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Before next flight after the effective date of this AD.

2.    At next scheduled inspection after the effective date of this AD, but not later than 31 May 2009.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 29 April 2008.

Background: It has been discovered that a risk of mechanical interference exists in the movement of the emergency landing gear by-pass selector, due to an insufficient functional gap between a floor panel attachment lug and the landing gear control button.  This condition, if not corrected, causes mechanical interference which could result in a situation where, during emergency procedures, the landing gear cannot be extended.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

28 April 2008