{"id":"F2006B07387","name":"AD/TBM 700/4 - Elevator and Rudder Drainage","slug":"ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":49564,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07387-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/TBM 700/4 - Elevator and Rudder Drainage","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/TBM 700/4 Elevator and Rudder Drainage 1/94\n\nApplicability: Model TBM 700 aircraft with serial numbers 2 through 19, 21, 22, 24 through 34, 38,\n\n39, 46, 49, 50, 52, 53, 57, 59 through 63, 67, 68, 70 through 78, 80, and 82 through\n\n85.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin 70-028-55.\n\n \n\nNote: DGAC AD 93-179(B) refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 6 January 1994.\n\n \n\nBackground: The DGAC determined that inadequate drainage exists at the central bearing of the empennage control surfaces.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The text provides a targeted, retrospective safety requirement for a defined set of TBM 700 serial numbers and refers to a prior DGAC AD (Note). There is no indication in the text that the AD expands or narrows scope from an earlier version; it implements the manufacturer service bulletin for the same affected serial-numbered aircraft within a specified compliance period (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance; Note)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, explicit applicability limited to a specific list of aircraft serial numbers (Applicability)","External technical reference: compliance requires following Socata Service Bulletin 70-028-55 (Requirement)","Time‑bound compliance window (100 hours TIS) which creates scheduling pressure (Compliance)","Technical nature of the work (empennage control surface drainage) requiring qualified maintenance resources (Background; Requirement)","Regulatory enforcement through an AD but without procedural detail on enforcement or acceptable alternate methods (Requirement; Compliance)"],"plain_english_summary":"What the rule requires, mechanically\n\n- This airworthiness directive (AD) requires owners/operators of specific Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 aeroplanes (a list of serial numbers is given) to carry out the technical action described in Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin 70-028-55 (Requirement). (Applicability; Requirement)\n- The required work must be completed within 100 hours time in service after 6 January 1994. (Compliance)\n\nWhy the regulator issued it\n\n- The directive follows a determination by the DGAC that there is inadequate drainage at the central bearing of the empennage control surfaces. The AD implements the remedial action specified in the service bulletin to address this drainage issue. (Background; Note)\n\nWho it affects and who decides\n\n- Who pays: the owners/operators of the affected TBM 700 aircraft are responsible for arranging and funding the work required by the service bulletin (Applicability; Requirement).\n- Who decides: the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (via this AD) sets the mandatory requirement and the compliance deadline; the specific technical steps are set out in the Socata service bulletin referenced by the AD. (Requirement)\n\nWhat behaviour changes\n\n- Operators must schedule, perform, or contract the modification/inspection/repair steps in Service Bulletin 70-028-55 on the listed aircraft and record compliance within the 100-hour window specified. This changes maintenance planning and creates an immediate compliance obligation for the listed fleet. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nCosts, incentives and trade-offs (mechanically stated)\n\n- Direct costs: operators will incur labour, parts, and any downtime costs needed to perform the actions in the service bulletin. The AD sets the obligation to perform that work; the document does not state cost amounts. (Requirement)\n- Incentives: complying avoids regulatory non‑compliance and addresses the drainage issue the DGAC identified; non‑compliance would leave the aircraft in the same state that prompted the AD. (Background; Compliance)\n- Opportunity cost: resources spent on this mandated maintenance cannot be used for other maintenance or operational activities during the compliance window. (Compliance)\n\nCompliance burden and implementation risk\n\n- Compliance burden: operators must locate whether their aircraft serial numbers appear on the applicability list and then ensure the service bulletin action is completed within the 100‑hour deadline. This imposes a time‑bound administrative and technical burden on affected operators and on maintenance organisations that carry out the work. (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)\n- Implementation risk: the AD references a manufacturer service bulletin; correct implementation depends on following that bulletin’s procedures. The AD itself does not prescribe alternate methods, nor does it quantify inspection or repair complexity. The AD does, however, make the service bulletin action mandatory for the listed aircraft. (Requirement)\n\nEffect on third parties and markets (mechanically stated)\n\n- Maintenance providers: independent maintenance organisations or Socata-authorised centres will be the suppliers of the required work; demand for their services will increase for the affected serial-numbered aircraft. (Requirement)\n- Competition and prices: the AD creates a one‑off demand for specific maintenance actions on the affected fleet; the AD does not itself set prices or require use of a particular provider. (Requirement)\n\nDiscretion and enforcement\n\n- The AD is prescriptive in pointing to the Socata service bulletin for the required work and sets a compliance deadline. The regulator enforces compliance by virtue of the AD mechanism; the AD does not in this text specify enforcement procedures or penalties. (Requirement; Compliance)\n\nSource citations\n\n- Applicability: lists serial numbers of TBM 700 aircraft to which the AD applies. (Applicability)\n- Requirement: mandates action in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin 70-028-55. (Requirement)\n- Compliance: sets the deadline of within 100 hours time in service after 6 January 1994. (Compliance)\n- Background and Note: cites the DGAC finding of inadequate drainage at the central bearing of the empennage control surfaces and refers to DGAC AD 93-179(B). (Background; Note)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific aircraft. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating a drainage fix for the identified serial numbers."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","Only 4 substantive sections: Applicability, Requirement, Note, and Compliance","Single cross-reference to a French aviation authority document (DGAC AD 93-179(B)) and one manufacturer service bulletin","No defined terms section — uses plain language and aircraft serial numbers","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward command structure: 'Action in accordance with...'"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners or operators of certain Socata TBM 700 aeroplanes to fix a drainage problem in the elevator and rudder controls. Water can collect at the central bearing of the tail control surfaces, which could cause corrosion or control issues.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone who owns or operates a TBM 700 with specific serial numbers listed (roughly serial numbers 2–85, with gaps). This is a targeted fix, not for all TBM 700s.\n\n**What action is required:** Follow the instructions in \"Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin 70-028-55\" — a technical repair guide from the manufacturer. The directive itself doesn't spell out the mechanical steps; it just says \"do what the manufacturer says in that document.\"\n\n**When it must be done:** Within 100 hours of flight time after 6 January 1994. (This is now historical — the deadline has long passed, but the AD remains on the books as a record of required compliance.)\n\n**Why it matters:** Water trapped in control surface bearings can freeze, corrode metal, or restrict movement — all serious flight safety risks. This AD prevents potential loss of control by ensuring proper drainage is installed."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage","history":"/api/acts/ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-tbm-700-4-elevator-and-rudder-drainage/documents"}}