AD/TBM 700/16 - Main Landing Gear Inboard Doors

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within PART 39 - 105, contain an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument, AD/TBM 700/16, was enacted to address the problem of corrosion on the main landing gear inboard doors, which could potentially cause the landing gear to remain locked in the "up" position. This risk was identified and deemed a significant safety concern, prompting the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to issue this directive. The policy objective was to ensure the continued safety of the aircraft by requiring the removal of the inboard doors as an interim measure, as outlined in SOCATA TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. 70-073-32, and to comply with the directive prior to 15 March 1996. This action was taken to mitigate the risk of in-flight incidents due to the aforementioned corrosion issue.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to all aircraft that have modification number MOD 70-065-32 incorporated or option number OPT 70-57-001 installed. The mandate requires the removal of the main landing gear inboard doors in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. 70-073-32. This directive is a proactive measure to prevent the main landing gear from becoming locked in an "up" position due to corrosion products, and the removal of the inboard doors is an interim solution until a more permanent fix is implemented. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for aircraft prior to 15 March 1996. The directive extends its jurisdictional reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the text of the directive itself, though the application may be extended or restricted by subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, detail the requirements and obligations for ensuring the airworthiness of the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, focusing on the main landing gear inboard doors. The key provision is captured in AD/TBM 700/16, which mandates the removal of these doors (section 5/96 DMApplicability). This directive applies to all aircraft with specific modifications or options installed, namely modification No. MOD 70-065-32 or option No. OPT 70-57-001 (section 5/96 DMApplicability). The requirement is to remove the main landing gear inboard doors in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. 70-073-32 (section 5/96 DMApplicability). This action is intended to mitigate the risk of the landing gear remaining locked in an "up" position due to corrosion, as referenced in DGAC AD 96-037(B) (section 5/96 DMApplicability). The compliance deadline for this directive was set prior to 15 March 1996 (section 5/96 DMApplicability). For the entities and individuals governed by these regulations, the obligations are clear and specific. Aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that the removal of the main landing gear inboard doors is carried out as specified in the Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. 70-073-32. This involves detailed adherence to the instructions provided in the service bulletin to avoid any potential issues with the landing gear. The responsibility lies with the aircraft maintenance and operation teams to ensure that this directive is implemented before the specified compliance date to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with these provisions could result in significant safety risks, including the possibility of the landing gear locking in an "up" position, which could have catastrophic consequences during flight operations. In terms of consequences and penalties, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives such as AD/TBM 700/16. However, non-compliance with such directives can lead to serious civil and criminal liabilities. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions against non-compliant aircraft, which can include grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made. Additionally, in severe cases, individuals or entities responsible for the non-compliance may face prosecution, resulting in fines or imprisonment, as per the broader civil aviation laws and regulations. The specific penalties for non-compliance would depend on the severity of the breach and the subsequent findings of CASA or any judicial proceedings.