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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-3073; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-017-AD;
Amendment 39-18334; AD 2015-24-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Viking
Air Limited Model DHC-3 Airplanes. This AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as corrugation cracking found at various wing stations and on
the main spar lower cap. We are issuing this AD to require actions to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 4, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 4,
2016.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3073; or in person at 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 service information identified in this AD, contact Viking Air
Limited Technical Support, 1959 De Havilland Way, Sidney, British
Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; Fax: 250-656-0673; telephone: (North
America) 1-800-663-8444; email: technical.support@vikingair.com;
Internet: http://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins. You may
view this referenced service information 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.
It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for Docket No. FAA-2015-3073.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Safety Engineer,
FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Steward Avenue,
suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7329; fax:
(516) 794-5531; email: aziz.ahmed@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to add an AD that would apply to Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3
airplane. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on July 28,
2015 (80 FR 44892). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition
for the specified products and was based on mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of
another country. The MCAI states:
An operator found cracks on the upper inner wing skin
corrugations emanating from the rib attachment points. As a result,
Viking Air Limited released Service Bulletin (SB) V3/0002, Revision
NC to inspect for possible corrugation cracking between wing
stations 34 and 110. Subsequently, operators discovered additional
corrugation cracking at multiple wing stations and on the main spar
lower cap.
These cracks, if not detected and rectified, may compromise the
structural integrity of the wing. In order to address this
potentially unsafe condition, Viking Air Limited has issued SB V3/
0002, Revision C, specifying repetitive internal borescope and
visual inspections. This AD is issued to mandate compliance with
that SB.
The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-3073-0002.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal
and the FAA's response to the comment.
Request From Viking
Viking has reviewed the FAA NPRM (80 FR 44892, July 28, 2015) and
found that paragraph (f)(4) is not applicable or relevant to Viking SB
V3/0002 Revision C. All cycle information is with respect to the wing.
Viking noted that it is important to make the distinction between the
airplane and the wings. The possibility has come to Viking's attention
that some operators may rotate wings within their airplane fleet.
Additionally, the Model DHC-3 airplane nominal cycles to hours ratio
used by Viking is 1.33 cycles per hour. In most cases, Viking would
consider an average flight length to be 45 minutes. Therefore, Viking
recommends that the calculation of the proposed AD paragraph (f)(4)
not be part of the mandated actions.
We agree and will remove paragraph (f)(4) of the proposed AD and
state in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD that the operator may contact
Viking to help determine wing flight cycles. We will also change all
reference of ``flight cycles'' to ``wing flight cycles.'' We
redesignated paragraph (f)(5) of the proposed AD as paragraph (f)(4) of
this AD.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD with the change described previously and minor editorial changes. We
have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (80 FR 44892, July 28, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 44892, July 28, 2015).
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Viking DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin No. V3/0002,
Revision ``C'', dated April 30, 2014; and Viking DHC-3 Otter Service
Bulletin 3-STC (03-50)-001, Revision ``NC'', dated July 3, 2013. The
service information describes procedures for installing additional wing
inspection access panels and inspecting the wings using borescope and
visual methods. This service information is reasonably available
because the interested parties have access to it through their normal
course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section
of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 38 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 36 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $5,000
per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $306,280, or $8,060 per product.
The scope of damage found in the required inspection could vary
significantly from airplane to airplane. We have no way of determining
how much damage may be found on each airplane or the cost to repair
damaged parts on each airplane.
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 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 this AD:
(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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3073; 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 the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
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
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 adding the following new AD:
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