SAIB ACE-98-37

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN

AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION SERVICE 800 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, S.W.

WASHINGTON, DC 20591

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. ACE-98-37 June 18, 1998

Published by: FAA, AFS-610, P.O. Box 26460, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 This is issued for informational purposes only and any recommendation for corrective action is not mandatory.

Introduction The purpose of this Special Airworthiness Informa tion Bulletin is to advise owners/operators of SOCATA TBM 700 Airplanes of the need to review SOCATA Service Bulletin SB 70-046-35.

Background On June 4, 1998, the Small Airplane Directorate, Ai rcraft Certification Service, of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received a telegraphi c Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the French airworthiness authority, the Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile, (DGAC).

For TBM 700 airplanes registered in France, the DGAC AD specifies the modification of the chemical oxygen generators utilized for emergency oxygen and restricts operations of the airplane to flights that do not require emergency oxygen. The DGAC AD is based on field reports that some oxygen generators did not operate when depl oyed. The accomplishment of SOCATA service bulletin SB 70-046-35, as specified in the DGAC AD, will help ensure the oxygen generators will operate if actuated.

Recommendations The FAA recommends, but at this time does not require, that SB 70-046-35 be accomplished as soon as practical. Until the service bulletin has been complied with, SOCATA TBM 700 operations should be limited to an altitude of 10,000 feet or below unless emergency oxygen, other than the factory installed chemical oxygen system, is available to the crew.

The FAA is currently evaluating this situation to determine if mandatory airworthiness action is required.

The service bulletin can be obtained from:

SOCATA Aircraft Groupe Aerospatiale North Perry Airport 7501 Pembroke Road Pembroke Pines, FL 33023 telephone: (954) 893-1160; (954) 893-1400; or facsimile: (954) 964-4141

For Further Information Contact:

Karl M. Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, F AA, Project Support Branch (ACE-112), Small Airplane Directorate, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106, telephone: (816) 426-6934, facsimile: (816) 426-2169.