Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Airworthiness Directive AD/TBM 700/35, issued in 2004, was enacted to address an unsafe condition in the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, specifically concerning the flap actuators. The directive was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The problem identified was excessive wear on the flap inner actuator drive nut due to contaminated grease, which could result in improper play between the actuator threaded rod and the drive nut, potentially leading to unsafe conditions during flight. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate this risk through mandated inspection and maintenance intervals to prevent such contamination from adversely affecting the aircraft's operation.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) F2006B07384 applies to all Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes within the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia. This AD, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, mandates specific maintenance actions to be undertaken on the aircraft's flap actuators to address a safety concern identified in relation to excessive wear caused by contaminated grease. The requirement for cleaning and lubrication or checking the play between the drive nut and the actuator threaded rod varies depending on the time in service of the inner actuators. The directive necessitates that these actions be carried out in accordance with detailed instructions provided in the EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin 70-118-27 or its later revisions, as approved by the French DGAC. The compliance timeframes are specified, with actions to be completed within 110 flight hours from the effective date of the AD and at prescribed intervals thereafter. This AD extends its application through subordinate instruments and becomes effective on 30 September 2004, with the requirement to be published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 September 2004.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TBM 700/35 applies specifically to EADS SOCATA TBM 700 aeroplanes, addressing safety concerns related to the flap inner actuators. The main requirement is to either clean and lubricate the actuator threaded rod for inner actuators with less than 1200 hours of time in service, or to check the play between the drive nut and the actuator threaded rod and then clean and lubricate the actuator threaded rod for inner actuators with more than 1200 hours of time in service (Sections 1 and 2). These actions must be carried out in accordance with the specified paragraphs in the EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin 70-118-27 or later revisions approved by the French DGAC (Section 2). The compliance intervals are set at 110 flight hours for certain actions and 330 flight hours for the play check (Section 3). Entities governed by this AD, such as aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers, have obligations to ensure that the specified actions are performed within the stipulated timeframes. For inner actuators with less than 1200 hours of time in service, the maintenance action must be completed within 110 flight hours after the effective date of the AD and at intervals not exceeding 110 flight hours thereafter. For inner actuators with more than 1200 hours of time in service, the play check must be completed within 110 flight hours after the effective date and at intervals not exceeding 330 flight hours, with the subsequent cleaning and lubrication action within 110 flight hours thereafter (Section 3). Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to safety risks and may affect the airworthiness of the aircraft. Breaching the provisions of this AD can result in serious consequences. The AD is legally binding, and non-compliance may render the aircraft non-airworthy, leading to potential grounding of the aircraft until the necessary actions are taken. In addition, the AD references DGAC AD F-2004-134, indicating that the French authorities have also identified this as a critical safety issue. While the AD itself does not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with CASA regulations generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including fines, enforcement notices, and in severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties for such breaches can include substantial fines and potential imprisonment, depending on the severity of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety.