DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0189; Product Identifier 2017-CE-022-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).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3 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 pitting corrosion on the shank of the wing strut attach
bolts. 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 April 27,
2018.
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) (800)
663-8444; 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-2018-0189;
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: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA,
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York
11590; telephone: (516) 287-7329; fax: (516) 794-5531; email:
aziz.ahmed@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-2018-0189;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-022-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-2017-11, dated March 9, 2017 (referred to after
this as "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for Viking Air
Limited Model DHC-3 airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing
airworthiness information originated by an aviation authority of
another country. The MCAI states:
Pitting corrosion has been found on the shank of the following
part number wing strut attach bolts: C3W114-3, C3W129-3 and C3W128-
3. These bolts are manufactured using a standard AN12 bolt.
Metallurgical evaluation concluded that pitting corrosion was
present on the affected AN12 bolts prior to forming of the bolt head
and threads. The pitting and un-plated voids could cause a surface
condition that may have a detrimental effect on fatigue and
corrosion resistance, leading to bolt failure and consequent failure
of the wing.
Viking has not been able to confirm the affected batch numbers
or specific manufacture date range. New wing strut bolts
manufactured after 21 March 2016 are inspected for pitting during
manufacturing and issued new P/Ns C3W114-5, C3W129-5 and C3W128-5
under MOD 3/1010.
You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0189.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Viking Air Limited has issued DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin Number
V3/0006, Revision B, dated March 9, 2017. The service information
describes procedures for inspection and any necessary corrective action
for pitting of the wing strut shank bolts. 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 37 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 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 $12,580, or $340 per product.
In addition, Table 1 is an estimate of possible necessary follow-on
actions as a result of the required inspections. We have no way of
determining the number of products that may need these actions. We
estimate that any necessary follow-on replacement parts would cost as
follows:
Replacing each affected bolt is on condition and is estimated to
take about 1 work-hour at $85 for a cost of $85 per bolt.
TABLE 1 - PARTS REPLACEMENT AND TOTAL BOLT COST
PART NO. |
QUANTITY PER WING |
QUANTITY PER AIRPLANE |
PRICE PER BOLT ($ USD) |
TOTAL COST PER BOLT (LABOR
AND PARTS) |
C3W114-5 |
2
|
4
|
$284
|
$369
|
C3W128-5 |
1
|
2
|
275
|
360
|
C3W129-5 |
1
|
2
|
164
|
249
|
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:
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