[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73957-73960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29855]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3073; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-017-AD; 
Amendment 39-18334; AD 2015-24-02]
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 Viking 
Air Limited Model DHC-3 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 corrugation cracking found at various wing stations and on 
the main spar lower cap. We are issuing this AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 4, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 4, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3073; 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; Fax: 250-656-0673; telephone: (North 
America) 1-800-663-8444; email: [email protected]; 
Internet: http://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins. You may 
view this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 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-2015-3073.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Safety Engineer, 
FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Steward Avenue, 
suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7329; fax: 
(516) 794-5531; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to add an AD that would apply to Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3 
airplane. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on July 28, 
2015 (80 FR 44892). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition 
for the specified products and was based on mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of 
another country. The MCAI states:

    An operator found cracks on the upper inner wing skin 
corrugations emanating from the rib attachment points. As a result, 
Viking Air Limited released Service Bulletin (SB) V3/0002, Revision 
NC to inspect for possible corrugation cracking between wing 
stations 34 and 110. Subsequently, operators discovered additional 
corrugation cracking at multiple wing stations and on the main spar 
lower cap.
    These cracks, if not detected and rectified, may compromise the 
structural integrity of the wing. In order to address this 
potentially unsafe condition, Viking Air Limited has issued SB V3/
0002, Revision C, specifying repetitive internal borescope and 
visual inspections. This AD is issued to mandate compliance with 
that SB.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-3073-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal 
and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request From Viking

    Viking has reviewed the FAA NPRM (80 FR 44892, July 28, 2015) and 
found that paragraph (f)(4) is not applicable or relevant to Viking SB 
V3/0002 Revision C. All cycle information is with respect to the wing. 
Viking noted that it is important to make the distinction between the 
airplane and the wings. The possibility has come to Viking's attention 
that some operators may rotate wings within their airplane fleet. 
Additionally, the Model DHC-3 airplane nominal cycles to hours ratio 
used by Viking is 1.33 cycles per hour. In most cases, Viking would 
consider an

[[Page 73958]]

average flight length to be 45 minutes. Therefore, Viking recommends 
that the calculation of the proposed AD paragraph (f)(4) not be part of 
the mandated actions.
    We agree and will remove paragraph (f)(4) of the proposed AD and 
state in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD that the operator may contact 
Viking to help determine wing flight cycles. We will also change all 
reference of ``flight cycles'' to ``wing flight cycles.'' We 
redesignated paragraph (f)(5) of the proposed AD as paragraph (f)(4) of 
this AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the change described previously and minor editorial changes. We 
have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (80 FR 44892, July 28, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 44892, July 28, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Viking DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin No. V3/0002, 
Revision ``C'', dated April 30, 2014; and Viking DHC-3 Otter Service 
Bulletin 3-STC (03-50)-001, Revision ``NC'', dated July 3, 2013. The 
service information describes procedures for installing additional wing 
inspection access panels and inspecting the wings using borescope and 
visual methods. 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 AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 38 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 36 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $5,000 
per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $306,280, or $8,060 per product.
    The scope of damage found in the required inspection could vary 
significantly from airplane to airplane. We have no way of determining 
how much damage may be found on each airplane or the cost to repair 
damaged parts on each airplane.

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.

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-2015-
3073; 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 the NPRM, 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.

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

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2015-24-02 Viking Air Limited: Amendment 39-18334; Docket No. FAA-
2015-3073; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-017-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 4, 
2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Viking Air Limited DHC-3 airplanes, all 
serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 57: Wings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 corrugation 
cracking found at various wing stations and on the main spar lower 
cap. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect cracking and correct 
as necessary to address the unsafe condition on these products.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (f)(4) of this AD:
    (1) Within 30 days after January 4, 2016 (the effective date of 
this AD), determine the accumulated wing flight cycles or wing 
flight hours for each wing by contacting Technical Support at Viking 
Air Limited. You can find contact information for Viking Air Limited 
in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (2) Within 30 days after January 4, 2016 (the effective date of 
this AD), determine all installed supplemental type certificates 
(STC) or modifications affecting the wings. Based on the accumulated 
air time determined from

[[Page 73959]]

paragraph (f)(1) of this AD and before the initial inspection 
required in paragraph (f)(3) of this AD, install access panels as 
follows:
    (i) If the airplane is free of STCs or any other modifications 
affecting the wings, install additional inspection access panels 
following the Accomplishment Instructions Part A of Viking DHC-3 
Otter Service Bulletin No. V3/0002, Revision ``C'', dated April 30, 
2014.
    (ii) If the airplane is fitted with STC SA2009NY (which can be 
found on the internet at: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/F7309B7D9B008C588625734F00730144?OpenDocument&Highlight=sa02009ny), 
incorporate additional inspection access panels following the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Viking Air Limited SB 3-STC (03-50)-
001, Revision ``NC'', dated July 3, 2013.
    Note 1 to paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this AD: STC SA03-50 would be 
the Canadian equivalent of the United States (FAA) STC SA2009NY.
    (iii) If there are other STCs or modifications affecting the 
wings the operator must contact the FAA to request an FAA-approved 
alternative method of compliance using the procedures in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD and 14 CFR 39.19. To develop these procedures, we 
recommend you contact the STC holder for guidance in developing 
substantiating data.
    (3) Based on the accumulated air time on the wings determined in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, perform initial and repetitive 
borescope and visual inspections of both the left-hand and right-
hand wing box following Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Viking DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin V3/0002, Revision ``C'', dated 
April 30, 2014, using the inspection schedules specified in Table 1 
of paragraph (f)(3) of this AD:

       Table 1 of Paragraph (f)(3) of This AD--Inspection Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Repetitive
         Effectivity           Initial inspection        inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Viking Air Limited SB V3/  The initial           Repetitively inspect
 0002, Revision ``A'', dated   inspection is not     not to exceed every
 February 22, 2013; or         required since the    1,600 wing flight
 Viking Air Limited SB V3/     inspection was        hours accumulated
 0002, Revision ``B'', dated   accomplished while    after the last
 July 3, 2013; were complied   complying with        inspection or 2,100
 with prior to January 4,      Revision ``A'' or     wing flight cycles
 2016 (the effective date of   ``B'' of Viking Air   after the last
 this AD).                     Limited SB V3/0002.   inspection,
                                                     whichever occurs
                                                     first.
If, as of January 4, 2016     Inspect within 800    Repetitively inspect
 (the effective date of this   wing flight hours     not to exceed every
 AD), the airplane has less    after January 4,      1,600 wing flight
 than 31,200 wing flight       2016 (the effective   hours accumulated
 hours.                        date of this AD),     after the last
                               or within 6 months    inspection or 2,100
                               January 4, 2016       wing flight cycles
                               (the effective date   after the last
                               of this AD),          inspection,
                               whichever occurs      whichever occurs
                               first.                first.
If, as of January 4, 2016     Inspect upon or       Repetitively inspect
 (the effective date of this   before accumulating   not to exceed every
 AD), the airplane has         32,000 wing flight    1,600 wing flight
 31,200 wing flight hours or   hours or within 6     hours accumulated
 more but less than 31,600     months after          after the last
 wing flight hours.            January 4, 2016       inspection or 2,100
                               (the effective date   wing flight cycles
                               of this AD),          after the last
                               whichever occurs      inspection,
                               first.                whichever occurs
                                                     first.
If, as of January 4, 2016     Inspect within 400    Repetitively inspect
 (the effective date of this   wing flight hours     not to exceed every
 AD), the airplane has         accumulated after     1,600 wing flight
 31,600 wing flight hours or   January 4, 2016       hours accumulated
 more.                         (the effective date   after the last
                               of this AD) or 3      inspection or 2,100
                               months after          wing flight cycles
                               January 4, 2016       after the last
                               (the effective date   inspection,
                               of this AD),          whichever occurs
                               whichever occurs      first.
                               first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) If any cracks are found, contact Technical Support at Viking 
Air Limited for an FAA-approved repair and incorporate the repair 
before further flight. You can find contact information for Viking 
Air Limited in paragraph (i) of this AD. The FAA-approved repair 
must specifically reference this AD.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Safety Engineer, FAA, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1600 Steward Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7329; fax: (516) 
794-5531; email: [email protected]. 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.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, 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 be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are 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.

 (h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD No. CF-2015-05, dated March 
18, 2015, for related information. The MCAI can be found in the AD 
docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-3073-0002.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Viking DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin No. V3/0002, Revision 
``C'', dated April 30, 2014.
    (ii) Viking DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin 3-STC (03-50)-001, 
Revision ``NC'', dated July 3, 2013.
    (3) For Viking Air Limited service information identified in 
this AD, contact Viking Air Limited Technical Support, 1959 De 
Havilland Way, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; Fax: 250-
656-0673; telephone: (North America) 1-800-663-8444; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins.
    (4) You may review this referenced service information at the 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on

[[Page 73960]]

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 Kansas City, Missouri, on November 16, 2015.
Melvin Johnson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-29855 Filed 11-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P