TBM Owners "Off The Hook" For Expensive Fix... If Needed

The documentation supplied with a recent FAA Airworthiness Directive proposal is rumored to have caused heart palpitations for some owners of Socata's speedy TBM 700 turboprop.

Despite Socata statements published last year, the FAA reported that the cost of full compliance with the ADs and the replacement of the TBM's gear (for those so affected) would set back owners as much as $127,040... whereupon a number of TBM owners commenced to start having serious heartburn (or worse).

The AD results from a mandatory service bulletin published by EADS Socata in mid-2006 and EASA reports of landing gear cracks amongst high-time operators of the aircraft.

Unfortunately; something got lost in the process of preparing the FAA's proposed AD, since Socata had already published that, if necessary, it would bear the five figure replacement cost for those TBM 700s needing a 'new set of shoes.'

OK... a note to all TBM 700 owners -- take a deep breath, you're not going to have to break into your piggy bank... this bill is on Socata. Commence breathing again, now...

So... what happened here?

According to the summary supplied with proposed AD 2006-CE-65-AD, the FAA proposed "to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for (EADS SOCATA Model TBM 700 Airplanes). This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product.

The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracks found on several main landing gear cylinders. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI."

In a letter to the TBM community, Raphaël Maitre, EADS Socata, VP, Customer Service stated that, "The FAA has initiated a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM: 2006-CE-65-AD) that prepares a forthcoming Airworthiness Directive. This is the normal process for the FAA when a mandatory Service Bulletin has been issued.

EADS Socata had earlier issued a mandatory Service Bulletin in April 2006 about potential cracks on the landing gears (for high cycles units only: see SB 70-130-32). Unfortunately; the FAA has evaluated the cost of compliance of $125,600 per aircraft for the parts only. The press has simply copied this information and released it.

The reality is that the SB only calls for regular NDT inspection and has a very small cost (a few hundred dollars during annuals inspection). If any crack is found, EADS SOCATA has already announced that the landing gears would be repaired at no cost to the owner.

It seems the FAA has used new landing gears prices instead of sticking to the real issue. We are communicating with them so that they correct their text, of course."

ANN's discussions with Nicolas Chabbert, EADS Socata’s VP Sales and Marketing, reinforced the laudable Socata commitment to lower the impact of this proposed AD to TBM owners and operators... indicating that the initial inspection (which is borne by the owner) is often conducted in just a few minutes (using dye penetrant) and costs but a few hundred dollars.

Eddy current alternatives (also an NDT inspection method) may also be used to conduct the examination.

Chabbert, citing the "excellent working relationship" that they've enjoyed with FAA, was at a loss as to explain why the FAA failed to report the Socata offer to pay the costs of necessary replacement. He added that they were "trying to find out now" why such information didn't make it into FAA documents, and that he had hopes that the FAA would update the documentation as soon as possible.

The proposed AD had originally stated that, "Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 272 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 18 work-hours per product to comply with the proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $125,600 per product. Where the service information lists required parts costs that are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these costs. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $34,554,880, or $127,040 per product."

And... as previously noted, the Proposed AD never mentioned the fact that Socata had promised to pay those costs earlier in the year. More news to follow...

FMI: www.socata.eads.net