DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-1038; Product Identifier 2017-CE-024-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
Viking Air Limited Models DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200, DHC-6-300, and
DHC-6-400 airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 aileron
cable wear or fouling at the wing root rib, fuselage skin, and wing
root rib fairlead, or fraying of the cable from the root rib fairlead.
We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December
21, 2017.
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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Viking Air Limited Technical Support, 1959 De Havilland Way, Sidney,
British Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; telephone: (North America) (866)
492-8527; fax: (250) 656-0673; email: technical.support@vikingair.com;
Internet: http://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins. You may
review this referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and
Innovation Division, 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-1038;
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 (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Hulverson, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Boston ACO Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
telephone: (781) 238-7655; fax: (781) 238-7199; email:
erin.hulverson@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-2017-1038;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-024-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://
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
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued AD Number CF-2017-20, dated June 7, 2017 (referred to after this
as "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for Viking Air Limited
Models DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200, DHC-6-300, and DHC-6-400
airplanes. The MCAI states:
There have been reports of accelerated aileron cable wear
because of contact with the fuselage skin cut-out or the wing root
rib. Wear that is not detected can lead to failure of the aileron
cable and loss of control of the aeroplane.
The root cause of this problem has not yet been identified. This
[Transport Canada] AD requires inspection of the aeroplane and
reporting of the inspection results to Viking Air Ltd. This
[Transport Canada] AD is considered an interim action and further AD
action may follow.
Aileron cables are typically replaced at intervals of 60 months
in accordance with the DHC-6 maintenance schedule.
You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-1038.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Viking Air Limited has issued DHC-6 Twin Otter Service Bulletin
Number: V6/0022, Revision B, dated June 13, 2014. The service
information describes procedures for initial and repetitive inspections
of the aileron cable for aileron cable wear or fouling at the wing root
rib, fuselage skin, and wing root rib fairlead, or fraying of the cable
from the root rib fairlead, and replacement of the aileron cables as
necessary. 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
NPRM.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 141 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 20 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $239,700, or $1,700 per product.
In addition, the following is an estimate of possible necessary
follow-on replacement actions. We have no way of determining the number
of products that may need these actions.
Action |
Work-hours * |
Labor cost (@$85/hour) |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Replace 1 cable |
6 |
$510 |
$244 |
$754 |
Replace 2 cables (on the same
wing) |
8 |
680 |
458 |
1,138 |
Replace 2 cables (one on each
wing) |
12 |
1,020 |
488 |
1,508 |
Replace all 4 cables (2 per wing) |
16 |
1,360 |
916 |
2,336 |
* Work-hours includes access, testing,
and close-up.
Paperwork Reduction Act
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to 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 control
number for the collection of information required by this proposed AD
is 2120-0056. The paperwork cost associated with this proposed AD has
been detailed in the Costs of Compliance section of this document and
includes time for reviewing instructions, as well as completing and
reviewing the collection of information. Therefore, all reporting
associated with this proposed AD is 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.
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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and
Innovation Division.
Regulatory Findings
We 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 this 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.
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 adding the following new AD:
|