[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3131-3134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01635]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0045; Product Identifier 2018-CE-027-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 
certain Viking Air Limited Models DHC-2 Mk. I and DHC-2 Mk. III 
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 cracks 
reported on the forward and aft float strut wire pull fittings. 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 March 28, 2019.

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,

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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: [email protected]; 
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-2019-
0045; 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 proposed AD, 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.

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: 
[email protected].

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-2019-0045; 
Product Identifier 2018-CE-027-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-2018-10, dated April 18, 2018 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain 
Viking Air Limited Models DHC-2 Mk. I and DHC-2 Mk. III airplanes. The 
MCAI states:

    Cracks have been reported on the Forward and Aft float strut 
wire pull fittings on DHC-2 Mk. I aeroplanes equipped with the 5600 
lb gross weight increase kit installed in accordance with STC SA92-
63 or SA00299NY and on DHC-2 Mk. III aeroplanes equipped with the 
6000 lb gross weight increase kit installed in accordance with STC 
SA91-18 or SA945NE. An investigation found that the forward and aft 
wire pull fittings (P/N VALTBS1245-1/-2 and P/N VALTBS1244-1, 
respectively) are prone to stress corrosion cracking at low cycles/
hours.
    Failure of these wire pull fittings will reduce the strength of 
the float undercarriage below the required structural capability and 
could result in a failure of the undercarriage causing the aeroplane 
to tip over and be submerged.
    Therefore this AD requires that the forward and aft wire pull 
fittings be replaced with P/N VALTBS1245-3/-4 and P/N VALTBS1244-3/-
4 (LH/RH) fittings respectively. These fittings are geometrically 
similar to the legacy fittings and are made of a different aluminum 
alloy that is less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking.
    In addition to replacing the fittings, it is necessary to 
implement a recurring visual inspection of the fittings to assure 
continuing airworthiness.

    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0045.

Record of Ex Parte Communication

    In preparation of AD actions such as notices of proposed rulemaking 
and immediately adopted final rules, it is the practice of the FAA to 
obtain technical information and information on the operational and 
economic impact from design approval holders and aircraft operators. We 
discussed certain aspects of this AD by email with Viking. A copy of 
these email contacts can be found in the rulemaking docket. For 
information on locating the docket, see ``Examining the AD Docket.''

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Viking has issued Service Bulletin (SB) Number V2/003, Revision NC, 
dated November 28, 2012, for Model DCH-2 Mk. I airplanes, and SB Number 
V2/002, Revision A, dated September 12, 2011, for Model DCH-2 Mk. III 
airplanes. For the applicable airplanes, the service information 
describes procedures for replacing the forward and aft float strut wire 
pull fittings and specifies implementing repetitive visual inspections 
of the fittings. 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.
    The MCAI requires returning cracked fittings to Viking, and this 
proposed AD would not. The MCAI also prohibits installation of an 
affected wire pull fitting on any airplane, and this proposed AD would 
not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 136 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate replacing the fittings would take about 12 
work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, and required 
parts would cost about $2,741. Based on these figures, we estimate a 
cost of $3,761 per airplane and $511,496 for the U.S. operator fleet.
    Inspecting the fittings would take about .5 work-hour for an 
estimated cost of $42.50 per airplane and $5,780 for the U.S. fleet, 
per inspection cycle.

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,

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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 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

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:

Viking Air Limited: Docket No. FAA-2019-0045; Product Identifier 
2018-CE-027-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 28, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to following Viking Air Limited airplanes, 
certificated in any category:
    (1) Model DHC-2 Mk. I airplanes altered by Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) SA92-63 or SA00299NY with a float strut wire pull 
fitting part number (P/N) VALTBS1245-1, P/N VALTBS1245-2, or P/N 
VALTBS1244-1; and
    (2) Model DHC-2 Mk. III airplanes altered by STC SA91-18 or 
SA945NE with a float strut wire pull fitting P/N VALTBS1245-1, P/N 
VALTBS1245-2, or P/N VALTBS1244-1.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 53: Fuselage.

(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 cracks reported 
on the forward and aft float strut wire pull fittings. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the wire pull fittings that 
could reduce the strength of the float undercarriage below the 
required structural capability, resulting in a failure of the 
undercarriage causing the airplane to tip over and submerge.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD:
    (i) Replace each forward wire pull fitting P/N VALTBS1245-1 and 
P/N VALTBS1245-2 with P/N VALTBS1245-3 Left Hand (LH) or P/N 
VALTBS1245-4 Right Hand (RH) by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, section A, steps 1 through 8, of Viking Service 
Bulletin No. V2/003, Revision NC, dated November 28, 2012 (SB No. 
V2/003), or Viking Service Bulletin No. V2/002, Revision A, dated 
September 12, 2011 (SB No. V2/002), as applicable to your model 
airplane.
    (ii) Within 110 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
replacement of the forward wire pull fittings and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 110 hours TIS, visually inspect each forward 
wire pull fitting for corrosion and cracks. If any corrosion or 
cracking is found during any of the required inspections, before 
further flight, replace the fitting with fitting P/N VALTBS1245-3 
(LH) or P/N VALTBS1245-4 (RH).
    (2) Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD:
    (i) Replace each aft wire pull fitting P/N VALTBS1244-1 with P/N 
VALTBS1244-3 (LH) or P/N VALTBS1244-4 (RH) by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, section B, steps 1 through 8, of SB No. 
V2/003 or SB No. V2/002, as applicable to your model airplane.
    (ii) Within 110 hours TIS after the replacement of the aft wire 
pull fittings and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 110 hours 
TIS, visually inspect each aft wire pull fitting for corrosion and 
cracks. If any corrosion or cracking is found during any of the 
required inspections, before further flight, replace the fitting 
with fitting P/N VALTBS1244-3 (LH) or P/N VALTBS1244-4 (RH).

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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 Engineer, 
FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 
New York 11590; telephone: (516) 287-7329; fax: (516) 794-5531; 
email:. 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must 
instead be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New 
York ACO Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or Viking Air Limited's 
Transport Canada Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 
the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD Number CF-2018-10, dated April 
18, 2018, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2019-0045. For service information related to 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: 
[email protected]; 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.


[[Page 3134]]


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 31, 2019.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Aircraft Certification Service, Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation 
Division, AIR-601.
[FR Doc. 2019-01635 Filed 2-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P