[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54535-54536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18863]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28619; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-004-AD; 
Amendment 39-15212; AD 2007-20-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Model DHC-7 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Viking Air Limited Model DHC-7 airplanes. This AD requires an 
inspection of certain SM-200 servo drive units (power servo motor and 
housing assemblies) for certain markings, related investigative action 
if necessary, and modification if necessary. This AD results from a 
report that some SM-200 servo drive units that were not in 
configuration MOD H are installed on Model DHC-7 airplanes. MOD H 
prevents the internal clutch fasteners from backing out. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent the possibility of internal clutch fasteners from 
backing out, which could cause an inadvertent servo engagement and 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 31, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 31, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC.
    Contact Viking Air Limited, 9574 Hampden Road, Sidney, British 
Columbia V8L 5V5, Canada, for service information identified in this 
AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ezra Sasson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Flight Test Branch, ANE-172, FAA, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone (516) 228-7320; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations 
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the 
West Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES 
section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Viking Air Limited 
Model DHC-7 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register 
on July 6, 2007 (72 FR 36925). That NPRM proposed to require an 
inspection of certain SM-200 servo drive units (power servo motor and 
housing assemblies) for certain markings, related investigative action 
if necessary, and modification if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Number of U.S.-
               Action                  Work    Average labor       Cost per        registered       Fleet cost
                                      hours    rate per hour       airplane        airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection.........................       1              $80              $80               21           $1,680
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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.

[[Page 54536]]

    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 have 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-20-02 Viking Air Limited (Formerly Bombardier, Inc.): Amendment 
39-15212. Docket No. FAA-2007-28619; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
004-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective October 31, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Viking Air Limited Model DHC-7-1, 
DHC-7-100, DHC-7-101, DHC-7-102, and DHC-7-103 airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that some SM-200 servo drive 
units (power servo motor and housing assemblies) that were not in 
configuration MOD H are installed on Model DHC-7 airplanes. MOD H 
prevents the possibility of internal clutch fasteners from backing 
out. We are issuing this AD to prevent the internal clutch fasteners 
from backing out, which could cause an inadvertent servo engagement 
and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspection and Modification

    (f) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Inspect the SM-200 power servo motor and housing assembly, part 
numbers 4006719-904, -913 and -933, to determine if MOD H is marked, 
and before further flight, do all applicable related investigative 
action and modifications of the power servo motor and housing 
assembly, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Viking Alert Service Bulletin 7-22-20, dated May 29, 2006.

    Note 1: The alert service bulletin refers to Honeywell Alert 
Service Bulletin 4006719-22-A0016 (Pub. No. A21-1146-008), Revision 
001, dated November 1, 2004, as an additional source of service 
information for doing the inspection, related investigative action, 
and modifications.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Related Information

    (h) Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2006-18, dated July 17, 
2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Viking Alert Service Bulletin 7-22-20, dated 
May 29, 2006, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Viking 
Air Limited, 9574 Hampden Road, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 5V5, 
Canada, for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 19, 2007.
John Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18863 Filed 9-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P