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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1821; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01045-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD)
for all Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by
Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) (Viking) Model DHC-3 airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the left-hand
side (LHS) and right-hand side (RHS) lower engine mount pickup
fittings. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the
affected parts for cracking, deformation, corrosion, fretting or wear,
paint or surface coating damage, and loose, missing, or broken
fasteners, and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would
also require reporting the inspection results. The FAA is proposing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by October 23,
2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1821; or in person at Docket Operations between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact
Viking Air Limited Technical Support, 1959 de Havilland Way, Sidney,
British Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; phone: (800) 663-8444; fax: (403)
295-8888; email: dh_technical.support@vikingair.com; website:
vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins.
You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yaser Osman, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (917)
348-6266; email: avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1821; Project Identifier
MCAI-2022-01045-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Yaser
Osman, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued Transport Canada AD CF-2022-41, dated August 4, 2022 (referred
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on all
Viking Model DHC-3 airplanes.
The MCAI states that Viking received a post inspection report of
fatigue cracking on the LHS and RHS of the lower engine mount pickup
fittings on a Viking Model DHC-3 airplane. The two upper and two lower
engine mount pickup fittings provide a rigid connection between the
engine mount ring to which the engine is secured, and the firewall rear
face. The MCAI also states that the current inspection requirements do
not include a direct inspection of the lower and upper engine mount
pickup fittings, and consequently, cracks or other damage to the engine
mount pickup fittings may not be detected. Additionally, the MCAI
states that an investigation determined that the upper engine mount
pickup fittings can also have undetected fatigue cracks because they
are manufactured from the same material as the lower engine mount
pickup fittings.
Cracking of any of the engine mount pickup fittings can result in
failure of the fitting, leading to a loose connection of the engine
mount ring, which provides main support for the engine at the firewall.
This condition, if not addressed, could, in the case of cracking of any
of the engine mount pickup fittings, result in failure of the fitting,
leading to a loose connection of the engine mount ring and consequent
reduced control of the airplane. To address the unsafe condition, the
MCAI requires a one-time inspection of the affected parts and
applicable corrective action. The MCAI also requires reporting the
inspection results to Viking.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1821.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Part 1 of Viking PSM 1-3-3, DHC-3 Otter Repair
Manual, dated August 1, 1963. This service information specifies
procedures for determining the damage classification and repair limits
of any structural damage found on an engine mount pickup fitting and
determining if an affected engine mount pickup fitting can be repaired
or if it should be replaced. Although the watermarked words
``Uncontrolled for Reference Only'' appear on the title page and each
page of the table of contents of this document, and the watermarked
word ``Uncontrolled'' appears on each page of Part 1 of this document,
this is the current version.
The FAA also reviewed Part 1 of Viking PSM 1-3-5 DHC-3 Otter
Supplemental Inspection and Corrosion Control Manual, Revision IR,
dated December 21, 2017 (Viking PSM 1-3-5, Revision IR). This service
information specifies procedures for repairing any damaged paint or
surface coating of an engine mount pickup fitting.
In addition, the FAA reviewed Viking Service Bulletin V3/0012,
Revision NC, dated January 20, 2022. This service information specifies
procedures for inspecting the upper and lower LHS and RHS engine mount
pickup fittings, reporting the inspection results, and performing
corrective actions. The corrective actions include replacing any loose,
missing, or broken fastener; and replacing any cracked or deformed
engine mount pickup fitting with a new or serviceable part.
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 ADDRESSES.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI and service information described above. The FAA is issuing
this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the MCAI, except as discussed under ``Differences Between this Proposed
AD and the MCAI.''
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
The MCAI requires contacting Viking for approval of proposed repair
instructions if any corrosion, wear, or fretting damage to any engine
mount pickup fitting is found and this proposed AD would not. This
proposed AD would require contacting either the Manager, International
Validation Branch, FAA; Transport Canada; or Viking's Transport Canada
Design Approval Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the
approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.
Where Part 1 of Viking PSM 1-3-5, Revision IR, specifies contacting
Viking if the alloy and condition of an affected engine mount pickup
fitting cannot be identified, this proposed AD would require contacting
the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; Transport Canada; or
Viking's Transport Canada DAO for instructions. If approved by the DAO,
the approval must include the DAO-authorized signature.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action.
If final action is later identified, the FAA might consider further
rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 65 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Detailed visual inspection of
the engine mount pickup fitting |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $170 |
$0
|
$170
|
$11,050
|
| Report results of inspection |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour
= $85 |
0
|
85
|
5,525
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might
need these actions:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Replace engine mount pickup
fitting |
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340 (per engine mount pickup fitting) |
Up to $692 per engine
mount pickup fitting
|
Up to $1,032 per engine mount
pickup fitting |
| Replace the fastener with a new
fastener |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Negligible |
$85 |
| Perform a detailed visual
inspection of the fastener hole
|
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0 |
$85 |
Any repair that may be needed as
a result of the detailed visual
inspection of the engine mount pickup fitting could vary significantly
from airplane to airplane. The FAA has no data to determine the costs
to accomplish the repair or the number of airplanes that may require
repair.
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 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 take
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and 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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 airworthiness
directive:
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