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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34011-34014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14396]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0597; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-019-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate 
No. A-815 Formerly Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) 
Model DHC-3 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to the products listed above. The existing AD 
currently requires repetitively inspecting the elevator control tabs 
for discrepancies and, if any discrepancies are found, taking necessary 
corrective actions to bring all discrepancies within acceptable 
tolerances. The existing AD also requires reporting certain inspection 
results to the FAA. Since we issued that AD, we determined that we 
inadvertently omitted certain airplanes from the Applicability section. 
This proposed AD would retain the actions currently required in AD 
2011-05-02 and remove the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA01059SE 
condition in the Applicability section. We are proposing this AD to add 
new repetitive inspections of the elevator control tabs. If these 
inspections are not done, excessive free-play in the elevator control 
tabs could develop. This condition could lead to loss of tab control 
linkage and severe elevator flutter. Such elevator flutter could lead 
to possible loss of control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For information about the revisions to the FAA-approved 
maintenance/inspection program identified in this AD, contact Viking 
Air Ltd., 9574 Hampden Road, Sidney, BC Canada V8L 5V5; telephone: 
(800) 663-8444; Internet: http://www.vikingair.com. You may review 
copies of the referenced revisions at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Duckett, Aerospace Engineer, 
New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7325; fax: (516) 
794-5531; e-mail: george.duckett@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0597; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-019-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On February 15, 2011, we issued AD 2011-05-02, Amendment 39-16611 
(76 FR 10220, February 24, 2011), for certain Viking Air Limited (Type 
Certificate No. A-815 formerly held by Bombardier Inc. and de 
Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 airplanes. That AD requires repetitively 
inspecting the

[[Page 34012]]

elevator control tabs for discrepancies and, if any discrepancies are 
found, taking necessary corrective actions to bring all discrepancies 
within acceptable tolerances. That AD also requires reporting certain 
inspection results to the FAA. That AD resulted from an evaluation of 
revisions to the manufacturer's maintenance manual that adds new 
repetitive inspections of the elevator control tabs. To require 
compliance with these inspections for U.S. owners and operators we 
mandated the inspections through the rulemaking process. We issued that 
AD to add new repetitive inspections of the elevator control tabs. If 
these inspections are not done, excessive free-play in the elevator 
control tabs could develop. This condition could lead to loss of tab 
control linkage and severe elevator flutter. Such elevator flutter 
could lead to possible loss of control.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2011-05-02, we determined that we inadvertently 
omitted certain airplanes from the Applicability section. The current 
Applicability section includes Model DHC-3 airplanes, all serial 
numbers, that do not have the new elevator servo tab and redundant 
control linkage installed according to Supplemental Type Certificate 
(STC) No. SA01059SE and that are certificated in any category.
    The actions currently required in AD 2011-05-02 were intended for 
all Model DHC-3 airplanes regardless if the installation of the 
redundant linkage was done according to Supplemental Type Certificate 
(STC) SA01059SE.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2011-
05-02. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability 
statement of the existing AD by removing the STC SA01059SE condition.

Interim Action

    We are continuing to evaluate the cause of the unsafe condition 
identified in this proposed AD to enable us to obtain better insight 
into the nature, cause, and extent of excessive free-play in the 
elevator control tabs. Based on this evaluation, we may consider 
further rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 65 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
          Action                Labor cost            Parts cost         Cost per product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection...............  1 work-hour x $85     Not applicable......  $85 per inspection    $5,525 per
                            per hour = $85 per                          cycle.                inspection cycle.
                            inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     We estimate the following costs to do any necessary follow-on 
actions that would be required based on the results of the proposed 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
may need this repair/replacement:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum repair.............................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85...             $50            $135
Moderate repair............................  3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255.             150             405
Maximum repair.............................  6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $510.             450             960
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship 
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

[[Page 34013]]

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive 
(AD) AD 2011-05-02, Amendment 39-16611 (76 FR 10220, February 24, 
2011), and adding the following new AD:

Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate No. A-815 Formerly Held by 
Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2011-0597; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-019-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by July 25, 
2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2011-05-02, Amendment 39-16611.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Viking Air Limited (type certificate No. 
A-815 formerly held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model 
DHC-3 airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any 
category.

Subject

    (d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight Controls.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from an evaluation of revisions to the 
manufacturer's maintenance manual that adds new repetitive 
inspections to the elevator control tabs. To require compliance with 
these inspections for U.S. owners and operators we are mandating 
these inspections through the rulemaking process. We are issuing 
this AD to add new repetitive inspections of the elevator control 
tabs. If these inspections are not done, excessive free-play in the 
elevator control tabs could develop. This condition could lead to 
loss of tab control linkage and severe elevator flutter. Such 
elevator flutter could lead to possible loss of control.

Compliance

    (f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the elevator control  (i) For airplanes   Following Viking
 tabs for discrepancies.           previously          DHC-3 Otter
                                   affected by AD      Maintenance
                                   2011-05-02:         Manual Temporary
                                   Initially within    Revisions No. 18,
                                   the next 50 hours   No. 19, and No.
                                   time-in-service     20, all dated
                                   (TIS) after March   December 5, 2008.
                                   31, 2011 (the
                                   effective date
                                   retained from AD
                                   2011-05-02).
                                  (ii) For airplanes
                                   not previously
                                   affected by AD
                                   2011-05-02:
                                   Initially within
                                   the next 50 hours
                                   time-in-service
                                   (TIS) after the
                                   effective date of
                                   this AD.
                                  (iii) For all
                                   affected
                                   airplanes:
                                   Repetitively
                                   thereafter
                                   inspect at
                                   intervals not to
                                   exceed 100 hours
                                   TIS.
(2) If any discrepancies are      For all affected    Following Viking
 found during any inspection       airplanes: Before   DHC-3 Otter
 required in paragraph (f)(1) of   further flight      Maintenance
 this AD, take necessary           after any           Manual Temporary
 corrective actions to bring all   inspection          Revisions No. 18,
 discrepancies within acceptable   required in         No. 19, and No.
 tolerances.                       paragraph (f)(1)    20, all dated
                                   of this AD in       December 5, 2008.
                                   which
                                   discrepancies are
                                   found.
(3) If, during any inspection     For all affected    Use the form
 required in paragraph (f)(1) of   airplanes: Within   (Figure 1 of this
 this AD, the total maximum free   30 days after the   AD) and submit it
 play of the elevator servo tab    inspection or       to FAA, Small
 and trim tab relative to the      within the next     Airplane
 elevator exceeds 1.0 degree       10 days after the   Directorate,
 (this is equal to a maximum       effective date of   Attn: Jim
 displacement of 0.070'' at the    this AD,            Rutherford, 901
 trailing edge), report the        whichever occurs    Locust, Room 301,
 results of the inspection to      later. For          Kansas City,
 the FAA.                          airplanes           Missouri 64106.
                                   previously
                                   affected by AD
                                   2011-05-02: We
                                   are collecting
                                   these inspection
                                   results for 24
                                   months after
                                   March 31, 2011
                                   (the effective
                                   date retained
                                   from AD 2011-05-
                                   02). For
                                   airplanes not
                                   previously
                                   affected by AD
                                   2011-05-02: We
                                   are collecting
                                   these inspection
                                   results for 24
                                   months after the
                                   effective date of
                                   this AD. The
                                   reporting
                                   requirements of
                                   this AD are no
                                   longer required
                                   after that time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        Docket No. FAA-2011-0597
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airplane Serial Number:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time-in-Service (TIS) of Airplane:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airplane Engine Type/Model Number/
 Series Number:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIS of Airplane When Current Engine was
 Installed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date When Current Engine was Installed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STC Number that Installed Current
 Engine (if applicable):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Out of Tolerance Recording:
 
 

[[Page 34014]]

 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrective Action Taken:
 
 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any Additional Information (Optional):
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone and/or E-mail Address:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Send report to: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane
     Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
                               facsimile:
             (816) 329-4090; e-mail: jim.rutherford@faa.gov.
                                Figure 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    (g) A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance 
with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or 
local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your Principal 
Maintenance Inspector or Principal Avionics Inspector, as 
appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight 
Standards District Office.

Related Information

    (i) For more information about this AD, contact George Duckett, 
Aerospace Engineer, New York ACO, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7325; fax: (516) 
794-5531; e-mail: george.duckett@faa.gov.
    (j) To get information about the revisions to the maintenance 
program identified in this proposed AD, contact Viking Air Ltd., 
9574 Hampden Road, Sidney, BC Canada V8L 5V5; telephone: (800) 663-
8444; Internet: http://www.vikingair.com. You may review copies of 
the referenced revision at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 6, 2011.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-14396 Filed 6-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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