DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0867; Product Identifier 2017-CE-021-AD; Amendment
39-19411; AD 2018-19-11]
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 all
Viking Air Limited Models DHC-2 Mk. I, DHC-2 Mk. II, and DHC-2 Mk. III
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 cracking found in the wing rear
spar web at the wing station where the flap outboard hinge is attached.
We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 30, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 30,
2018.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017- 0867;
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; 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 view 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. It
is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for Docket No. FAA-2017-0867.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart 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 supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Viking Air
Limited Models DHC-2 Mk. I, DHC-2 Mk. II, and DHC-2 Mk. III airplanes.
The SNPRM published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2018 (83 FR
19983). We preceded the SNPRM with a notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) that published in the Federal Register on September 8, 2017 (82
FR 42489). The NPRM proposed to require inspecting the wing rear spar
and flap/aileron support brackets within 400 hours time-in-service
(TIS) and reporting the results to the manufacturer. The NPRM was based
on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by
Transport Canada, the aviation authority for Canada. The MCAI states:

It was reported that a crack was found in the wing rear spar
web, part number C2W1007, at wing station 123.5 where the flap
outboard hinge is attached. An aileron hinge bracket has also been
found cracked. Viking Air Ltd. analysis shows that similar cracks
may develop on the wing rear spar web and flap/aileron hinge arm
support brackets at the other flap/aileron hinge attachment
locations.
Undetected cracking of the wing rear spar or flap/aileron hinge
bracket may lead to the failure of the component with consequent
loss of aeroplane control.

The MCAI requires inspecting the left-hand and right-hand wing rear
spar and the flap/aileron hinge air support brackets for cracks,
damage, or discrepancies and repairing or replacing any parts with
cracks, damage, or discrepancies. The MCAI can be found in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-
2017-0867-0002.
The SNPRM proposed to revise the compliance times to require the
inspections within 400 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first,
to match the compliance times in the MCAI.

Comments

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

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have
determined that these minor changes:
[Agr]re consistent with the intent that was proposed in
the SNPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the SNPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Viking Air Limited has issued Viking DHC-2 Beaver Service Bulletin
Number: V2/0009, Revision A, dated February 10, 2017. The service
information describes procedures for inspecting the left-hand and
right-hand wing rear spars, the flap/aileron hinge brackets, and the
exterior store support bracket for cracks, damage, and discrepancies.
The service information also specifies repairing or replacing any parts
that have cracks, damage, or discrepancies. 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.

Interim Action

We consider this AD interim action. The inspection report required
by this AD allows us to obtain better information into the nature,
cause, and extent of the damage to the wing rear spars and flap/aileron
hinge arm support brackets and to develop final action to address the
unsafe condition. After evaluating the inspection results, we may
consider further rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 140 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 11 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic inspection requirements of this AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the basic cost of this AD on
U.S. operators to be $130,900, or $935 per product.
Reporting the inspection findings would require about 5 minutes,
for a cost of $7 per airplane and $980 for the U.S. operator fleet.
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.

* To replace any wing spar section takes 60 work-hours. To replace all four wing
spar sections per wing takes 240 work-hours.
¹(If applies)
²For both
³For all eight

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 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 currently 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 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of
information. All responses to this collection of information are
mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX
76177-1524.

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, gliders,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation
Division.

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-2017-
0867; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
the NPRM, the SNPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for Docket Operations
(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 airworthiness
directive (AD):