AD/TBM 700/52 Oxygen Pilot Operating Handbook (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 700/52 Oxygen - Pilot Operating Handbook 6/2009 TX

Applicability:	TBM 700 A and B model aeroplanes, all serial numbers.
Requirement:	1.    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 TBM700 A and B 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 1:  Before every flight, it is the crew responsibility to warn passengers of the way to properly activate oxygen generator.
Note 2:  EASA Emergency AD 2009-0096-E refers.
Compliance:	For Requirement 1 - Before the next flight after the effective date of this Directive.
For Requirement 2 - Upon receipt of POH TR 03.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 April 2009.

Background:

The European Aviation Safety Agency has advised that during a SOCATA flight test, it was noted a pilot experienced some difficulties in releasing oxygen.

After investigation it has been 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 an emergency procedure due to decompression to a risk of generator fault with subsequent lack of oxygen on crew and/or passenger.

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

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

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

22 April 2009