AD/TBM 700/52 Amdt 1 Oxygen Pilot Operating Handbook (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TBM 700/52 and issues the following 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 700/52 Amdt 1 Oxygen - Pilot Operating Handbook 9/2009

Applicability:	TBM700A and TBM700B model aeroplanes, serial numbers 1 to 204, 206 to 239 and 241 to 243 equipped with a chemical oxygen system manufactured by Puritan Bennett.
Note 1:  For this system, the oxygen masks for the front seats are located under the Right Hand station seat.
Requirement:	1.    Unless already accomplished in accordance with the original issue of this Directive, revise the procedure “Oxygen Use” in paragraph 3.13 of the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) to include the following statement:
IN CASE OXYGEN GENERATOR FAILS TO ACTIVATE PULL ON THE OTHER LANYARD
If POH Temporary Revision (TR) 03 is already incorporated in the POH no further action is required.
Inserting a copy of this Directive into the POH is an acceptable means to comply with Requirement 1.
2.    Insert TBM700A and TBM700B POH TR 03 dated March 2009 into the POH and remove the copy of this Directive from the POH.
Actions required by this Directive may be accomplished by the owner/operator of the aeroplane, provided that they at least hold a private pilots licence.
Note 2:  Before every flight, it is the crew responsibility to warn passengers of the way to properly activate oxygen generator.
Note 3:  EASA AD 2009-0096R1 refers.
Compliance:	For Requirement 1 - Before the next flight after 10 September 2009.
For Requirement 2 - Upon receipt of POH TR 03.
This Amendment becomes effective on 27 August 2009.

Background:

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has advised that during a Socata flight test, it was noted a pilot experienced some difficulties in releasing oxygen.  After investigation it was found that, due to the design of the oxygen generator release pin, one of the mask’s lanyard linked to the pin can be jammed when it is pulled by a pilot or a passenger.

This condition, if not corrected, would lead, in case of decompression to a risk of oxygen generator fault with subsequent lack of oxygen for crew and/or passengers.

For the reason described above, Socata has released POH TR 03 which directs, in case of failure to release oxygen, pulling the other mask lanyard in order to activate the oxygen generator.

This Amendment continues the requirements of the original Directive, but following advice from EASA, clarifies the applicability and introduces a note identifying the location of the front seat oxygen masks.

A Socata modification enabling to resolve this issue is under preparation.  Once this modification is released, further rulemaking is anticipated.

The original issue of this Directive became effective on 23 April 2009.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

15 July 2009