COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes 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 39.1 (1) of CAR 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. AD/TBM 700/21 Horizontal Stabiliser Top Skin 11/2000 Applicability: All TBM 700 aircraft, except for aircraft which have Modification No. Mod. 70-117- 55 installed. Requirement: Visually inspect for cracks in the top skin of the horizontal stabiliser at the junction of the root rib and central spar, and take action in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin 70-081-55. Note: DGAC AD 2000-306(A) refers. Compliance: Aircraft with less than 900 total hours at the effective date of this Directive: Upon reaching 900 hours total time in service. Aircraft with more than 900 total hours at the effective date of this Directive: At the next inspection for maintenance release issue after 2 November 2000. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 2 November 2000. Background: The manufacturer received reports of fatigue cracks in the top skin of the horizontal stabiliser. Such cracking could lead to a decrease in structural strength of the stabiliser. This Directive requires an inspection and installation of reinforcement plates. David Alan Villiers Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 September 2000 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000.