Document ID: FAA-2011-0597-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Viking Air Limited; Type Certificate No. A-815 Formerly Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.
Posted Date: 2011-08-29T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 167 (Monday, August 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53633-53636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21876]

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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; 
Amendment 39-16793; AD 2011-18-11]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Viking Air Limited (type certificate No. A-815 formerly held by 
Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 airplanes. That AD 
currently requires repetitively inspecting the elevator control tabs 
for discrepancies, taking necessary corrective actions to bring all 
discrepancies within acceptable tolerances, and reporting certain 
inspection results to the FAA. This new AD retains the actions 
currently required in AD 2011-05-02 and removes the Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) SA01059SE condition in the Applicability section. 
This AD was prompted by our determination that we inadvertently omitted 
certain airplanes from the Applicability section. We are issuing this 
AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 3, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of March 
31, 2011 (76 FR 10220, February 24, 2011).

ADDRESSES: 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2011-05-02, Amendment 39-16611 (76 FR 10220, 
February 24, 2011). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2011 (76 FR 34011). That 
NPRM proposed to retain all of the requirements of AD 2011-05-02 and 
add airplanes to the Applicability section removing the Supplemental 
Type Certificate (STC) SA01059SE condition.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Interim Action

    We are continuing to evaluate the cause of the unsafe condition 
identified in this 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 AD affects 65 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this 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                          cycle.              inspection cycle.
                                   per inspection
                                   cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     We estimate the following costs to do any necessary follow-on 
actions that will be required based on the results of the 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

[[Page 53634]]

 
Moderate repair...............................  3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255....          150          405
Maximum repair................................  6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $510....          450          960
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

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

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

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

2011-18-11 Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate No. A-815 Formerly 
Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 39-16793; 
Docket No. FAA-2011-0597; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-019-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 3, 2011.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2011-05-02, Amendment 39-16611 (76 FR 
10220, February 24, 2011).

(c) Applicability

    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.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    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.

(f) Compliance

    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 (76 FR   Manual Temporary
                                   10220, February     Revisions No. 18,
                                   24, 2011):          No. 19, and No.
                                   Initially within    20, all dated
                                   the next 50 hours   December 5, 2008.
                                   time-in-service
                                   (TIS) after March
                                   31, 2011 (the
                                   effective date
                                   retained from AD
                                   2011-05-02).
                                  (ii) For airplanes
                                   not previously
                                   affected by AD
                                   2011-05-02 (76 FR
                                   10220, February
                                   24, 2011):
                                   Initially within
                                   the next 50 hours
                                   time-in-service
                                   (TIS) after
                                   October 3, 2011
                                   (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.

[[Page 53635]]

 
(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       Directorate,
 (this is equal to a maximum       October 3, 2011     Attn: Jim
 displacement of 0.070'' at the    (the effective      Rutherford, 901
 trailing edge), report the        date of this AD),   Locust, Room 301,
 results of the inspection to      whichever occurs    Kansas City,
 the FAA.                          later. For          Missouri 64106.
                                   airplanes
                                   previously
                                   affected by AD
                                   2011-05-02 (76 FR
                                   10220, February
                                   24, 2011): 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 (76 FR
                                   10220, February
                                   24, 2011): We are
                                   collecting these
                                   inspection
                                   results for 24
                                   months after
                                   October 3, 2011
                                   (the effective
                                   date of this AD).
                                   The reporting
                                   requirements of
                                   this AD are no
                                   longer required
                                   after that time..
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              AD 2011-18-11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:              ...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrective Action Taken:                 ...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any Additional Information (Optional):   ...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:                                    ...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone and/or Email 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

(g) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    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.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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.
    (3) AMOCs approved for AD 2011-05-02 (76 FR 10220, February 24, 
2011) are approved as AMOCs for this AD.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact George Duckett, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7325; fax: (516) 
794-5531; email: george.duckett@faa.gov.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 
following service information on the date specified:
    (2) Viking DHC-3 Otter Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 
18, Viking DHC-3 Otter Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 19, 
and Viking DHC-3 Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 20, all 
dated December 5, 2008, approved for IBR March 31, 2011 (76 FR 
10220, February 24, 2011).
    (3) To get information about the revisions to the maintenance 
program identified in this AD, contact Viking Air Ltd., 9574 Hampden 
Road, Sidney, BC Canada V8L 5V5; telephone: (800) 663-8444; 
Internet: www.vikingair.com.

[[Page 53636]]

    (4) 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.
    (5) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 19, 2011.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21876 Filed 8-26-11; 8:45 am]
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