[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3238-3241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00970]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0007; Project Identifier 2018-CE-048-AD]
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 certain Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by 
Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-6-400 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 corrosion of the

[[Page 3239]]

fuel system components located in the fuel gallery due to inadequate 
corrosion protection. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 7, 
2022.

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 https://www.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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Viking Air Limited Technical Support, 1959 de Havilland Way, Sidney, 
British Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; phone: (North America) (800) 663-
8444; fax: (250) 656-0673; email: [email protected]; 
website: https://www.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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0007; or in person at 
the Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Catanzaro, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-7366; fax: (516) 794-5531; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2022-0007; 
Project Identifier 2018-CE-048-AD'' 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 
https://www.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 
Joseph Catanzaro, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 
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 Canadian AD CF-2018-07, dated February 23, 2018 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on certain 
serial-numbered Viking Air Limited Model DHC-6-400 airplanes. The MCAI 
states:

    There have been reports of corrosion affecting components of the 
fuel system that are located in the fuel gallery because of 
inadequate corrosion protection. This condition affects only 
aeroplanes operating on floats.
    The effects of corrosion-related damage to fuel system 
components have included fuel leaks, electrical arcing, loss of fuel 
boost pump function and erroneous fuel quantity readings. Inaccurate 
fuel quantity indication and loss of fuel boost pump function can 
lead to fuel starvation followed by loss of engine power. Electrical 
arcing in the fuel gallery and loss of electrical bonding between 
fuel system components increases the risk of fire.

    The MCAI requires repetitively inspecting the fuel gallery for 
corrosion, rectifying any deficiencies, and accomplishing modifications 
to the fuel gallery system. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket 
at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0007.

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 the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, 
it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Service Bulletin V6/0044, 
Revision `B', dated September 13, 2021. The service information 
specifies incorporating multiple design improvement modifications in 
the fuel gallery.
    The FAA also reviewed Temporary Revision No. 241, dated July 27, 
2021, to the Viking DHC-6 Inspection Requirements Manual, PSM 1-6-7. 
Items 15.(1) and 15.(2) of this service information specifies rinsing 
and inspecting the entire fuel gallery for corrosion; removing 
corrosion; reapplying any protective finishes; and removing and 
replacing any damaged components. The temporary revision updates the 
fuel gallery inspection to include airplanes with a new fuel probe 
(Modification (MOD) 6/2395).
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed the following technical bulletins related to this 
NPRM, which contain instructions for

[[Page 3240]]

the different modifications to components in the fuel gallery:
     Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Technical Bulletin TBV6/00034, 
Revision NC, dated October 16, 2013 (MOD 6/2267);
     Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Technical Bulletin TBV6/00084, 
Revision A, dated May 26, 2017 (MOD 6/2299);
     Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Technical Bulletin V6/00099, 
Revision NC, dated December 23, 2016 (MOD 6/2389);
     Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Technical Bulletin. TBV6/00094, 
Revision NC, dated November 1, 2016 (MOD 6/2390);
     Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Technical Bulletin. V6/00100, 
Revision NC, dated February 20, 2017 (MOD 6/2393); and
     Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Technical Bulletin V6/00152, 
Revision NC, dated January 29, 2021 (MOD 6/2464).

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions described 
in the service information previously.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 4 airplanes of U.S. registry. The average labor rate is $85 per 
work-hour.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
            Action                  Labor cost            Parts cost         Cost per airplane      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect fuel gallery..........  3 work-hours x     Not applicable..........  $255 per           $1,020 per
                                 $85 per hour =                               inspection cycle.  inspection
                                 $255.                                                           cycle.
MOD 6/2267--Fuel boost pump     16 work-hours x    $4,762..................  $6,122...........  $12,244 (for 2
 EMI filter relocation.          $85 per hour =                                                  affected
                                 $1,360.                                                         airplanes).
MOD 6/2299--Improved fuel       17 work-hours x    $42,290.................  $43,735..........  $131,205 (for 3
 boost pump.                     $85 per hour =                                                  affected
                                 $1,445.                                                         airplanes)
MOD 6/2389--Electrical Bonding  18 work-hours x    $572....................  $2,102...........  $8,408 (for 4
 Fuel System Manifold Drain      $85 per hour =                                                  affected
 Valve.                          $1,530.                                                         airplanes).
MOD 6/2390--Fuel probe,         20 work-hours x    $2,129..................  $3,829...........  $11,487 (for 3
 improved mating electrical      $85 per hour =                                                  affected
 connection.                     $1,700.                                                         airplanes).
MOD 6/2393--Fuel system         8 work-hours x     $225....................  $905.............  $3,620 (for 4
 manifold--drain valve.          $85 per hour =                                                  affected
                                 $680.                                                           airplanes).
MOD 6/2464--Fuel pressure       10 work-hours x    $3,953..................  $4,803...........  $14,409 (for 3
 switch replacement.             $85 per hour =                                                  affected
                                 $850.                                                           airplanes).
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On-Condition Costs

    The extent of corrosion damage found during the inspections may 
vary significantly from airplane to airplane. The FAA has no way of 
determining how much corrosion damage may be found on each airplane, 
the cost for repairing corrosion damage on each airplane, or the number 
of airplanes that may require repair.

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

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 airworthiness 
directive:

Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier 
Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2022-0007; Project 
Identifier 2018-CE-048-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by March 7, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Viking Air Limited (type certificate 
previously held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model 
DHC-6-400 airplanes, serial numbers 845 through 957, certificated in 
any category.

[[Page 3241]]

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2800, Aircraft Fuel 
System.

(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 corrosion of 
fuel system components located in the fuel gallery due to inadequate 
corrosion protection. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
corrosion-related damage to fuel system components, which could lead 
to fuel leaks, electrical arcing, loss of fuel boost pump function, 
and erroneous fuel quantity readings. This unsafe condition, if not 
corrected, could result in fuel starvation with loss of engine power 
and increased risk of an in-flight fire with consequent loss of 
airplane control.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions for Airplanes Operating on Floats on the Effective 
Date of This AD

    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD or within 3 months after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 125 hours TIS, do the following actions:
    (i) Remove all fuel gallery covers and rinse the fuel gallery 
with water.
    (ii) Inspect the fuel gallery for corrosion and, if there is any 
corrosion, take all necessary corrective actions before further 
flight by following Item D.15(2) of Special Inspection 3 in 
Temporary Revision No. 241, dated July 27, 2021, to the Viking DHC-6 
Inspection Requirements Manual, PSM 1-6-7.
    (2) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install the modifications applicable to your airplane serial number 
by following the Accomplishment Instructions, sections A. through E. 
in Viking Air Limited, DHC-6 Twin Otter Service Bulletin V6/0044, 
Revision `B', dated September 13, 2021 (Viking SB V6/0044, Revision 
`B').

(h) Required Actions for Airplanes Modified To Operate on Floats After 
the Effective Date of This AD

    Within 12 months after the airplane is modified to operate on 
floats, regardless of whether the landing gear is later modified 
back to non-float landing gear, install the modifications applicable 
to your airplane serial number by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, sections A. through E. in Viking SB V6/0044, Revision 
`B.'

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, New York ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Joseph 
Catanzaro, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, New York ACO Branch, 1600 
Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-
7366; fax: (516) 794-5531; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Viking Air Limited Technical Support, 1959 de Havilland Way, Sidney, 
British Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; phone: (North America) (800) 663-
8444; fax: (250) 656-0673; email: [email protected]; 
website: https://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins. You 
may view this referenced 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.

    Issued on January 13, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00970 Filed 1-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P