Recommended Alternative Inspection Schedule for Daher (Socata) TBM Series Aircraft

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AC 43-211A 2 area where the operator is located. In addition, § 91.409(d) provides a list of things that must be included in that request. 4.1 Unacceptable Manufacturer Inspection Programs. Sometimes manufacturers publish procedures in their maintenance manuals that are contrary to the FAA regulations. This can be especially true for aircraft that are manufactured overseas and are marketed to more than one country. If a procedure or inspection program is published in a manufacturer’s manual and found to be contrary to the regulations, that procedure does not authorize a deviation to the regulations. The regulations will take precedence over the manufacturer’s instructions. In this case the regulations, specifically § 91.409, prescribe the inspection program requirements that must be met. Section 91.409(e) allows some aircraft to use a current inspection program recommended by the manufacturer, but these aircraft must meet the eligibility and applicability requirements in § 91.409(e). Single-engine, turbine-powered airplanes such as the TBM Series do not meet the eligibility requirements under the regulations; therefore, the manufacturer’s recommended program under § 91.409(f)(3) is not an option. 4.2 Acceptable Manufacturer Inspection Programs. Manufacturers can develop programs that meet the criteria of annual, 100-hour, or progressive inspection programs that are required under § 91.409(a), (b), or (d). Those programs may be used as long as they meet the scope and detail of 14 CFR part 43 appendix D and are completed within 1 calendar-year. Note: Owners or operators who select to use a progressive inspection program must submit a written request to the responsible FSDO for the area in which the applicant is located. The frequency and detail of the progressive inspection shall provide for the complete inspection of the aircraft within each 12 calendar-months and will be consistent with the manufacturer’s recommendations, field service experience, and the kind of operation in which the aircraft is engaged. The progressive inspection schedule must ensure that the aircraft, at all times, will be airworthy and will conform to all applicable FAA aircraft specifications, Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS), Airworthiness Directives (AD), and other approved data. 5 RECOMMENDATIONS. Owners, operators, and maintenance providers of TBM Series aircraft are urged to review their maintenance inspection schedules to (1) determine regulatory compliance, and (2) be aware of the regulatory inspection requirements for their aircraft. Aircraft inspection options available to the TBM Series include the following: • Annual inspection in accordance with § 91.409(a)(1) and part 43 appendix D; or • A progressive inspection in accordance with § 91.409(d) (operators must submit a written request to the responsible FSDO before using this option). Note: The requirements under part 91 subpart E apply to all U.S.-registered civil aircraft operating within or outside the United States. Owners or operators of

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AC 43-211A 3 these aircraft must meet these requirements to be in compliance with the regulations. 6 COMMENTS INVITED. Direct questions or comments to the General Aviation Aircraft Branch at 202-267-1675. For your convenience, the Advisory Circular Feedback Form is the last page of this AC. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this AC on the Advisory Circular Feedback Form. John Barbagallo Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service

Advisory Circular Feedback Form If you find an error in this AC, have recommendations for improving it, or have suggestions for new items/subjects to be added, you may let us know by contacting the Flight Standards Directives Management Officer at [email protected]. Subject: AC 43-211A, Recommended Alternative Inspection Schedule for Daher (Socata) TBM Series Aircraft Date: _____________________ Please check all appropriate line items: An error (procedural or typographical) has been noted in paragraph ____________ on page _______. Recommend paragraph _____________ on page __________ be changed as follows: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ In a future change to this AC, please cover the following subject: (Briefly describe what you want added.) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Other comments: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ I would like to discuss the above. Please contact me. Submitted by: Date: ______________________