[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3236-3238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-1003; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00962-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 (Viking) (type certificate previously held
by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100,
DHC-6-200, DHC-6-300, and 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 identifies the unsafe
condition as cracks and corrosion damage to the aileron internal
structure. This proposed AD would require visually inspecting the
entire aileron internal structure, correcting any damage found, and
reporting the inspection results to Viking. 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 NPRM, contact Viking Air
Ltd., 1959 de Havilland Way, Sidney British Columbia, Canada V8L 5V5;
phone: (800) 663-8444; email: [email protected];
website: https://www.vikingair.com. 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-2020-1003; 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 MCAI,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deep Gaurav, Aviation Safety Engineer,
New York ACO Branch, FAA, 1515 Stewart Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (516) 228-7300; fax: (516) 794-5331; email: [email protected].
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-2020-1003; Project Identifier
MCAI-2020-00962-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
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 Deep
Gaurav, Aviation Safety Engineer, New York ACO Branch, FAA, 1515
Stewart Avenue, 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-2020-05, dated March 13, 2020 (referred
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on
Viking Model DHC-6 series 1, DHC-6 series 100, DHC-6 series 110, DHC-6
series 200, DHC-6 series 210, DHC-6 series 300, DHC-6 series 310, DHC-6
series 320, and DHC-6 series 400 airplanes. The MCAI states:
Viking Air Ltd. (Viking) received reports of cracks and
corrosion damage to the aileron internal structure. During a repair
of an in-service aeroplane, an aileron hinge support rib was found
cracked at the lower flange along the bend radius near the hinge
fitting attachment at wing station 247.29. Preliminary investigation
by Viking
[[Page 3237]]
determined that the observed crack was the result of fatigue. During
an inspection of another in-service aeroplane, the aileron inboard
rib and the vertical flange of the inboard aileron forward spar near
a fastener hole were also found cracked.
The current inspection requirements of the affected aeroplanes
do not include a direct inspection of the aileron internal
structure. Cracks or other damage to the aileron ribs or to the
aileron spar flanges are not detectable from the aileron exterior
surfaces. Undetected cracks or other damage to the aileron internal
structure could lead to progressive looseness of the aileron at the
hinge support rib push-pull rod attachment and subsequent flutter
condition and degraded or loss of aileron control.
To detect and correct any cracking or other damage to the
aileron internal structure, this [Transport Canada] AD mandates a
one-time Special Detailed Inspection (SDI) of all aileron internal
structure, including front and rear spars, all aileron ribs and
upper and lower skins for cracks, corrosion or other damage, and
rectification, as required, of the damaged parts.
This [Transport Canada] AD also mandates reporting of all
inspection results to Viking. The reporting of the inspection
results is necessary to assess the overall aileron internal
structural condition on in-service aeroplanes and to determine
additional corrective action based on the results of the
inspections.
Viking has published Service Bulletin (SB) V6/0066 Revision A,
dated 9 December 2019, (referred to as ``the SB'' in this AD)
providing accomplishment instructions for the inspection,
rectification of the damaged parts, and reporting requirements.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
1003.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Service Bulletin V6/0066,
Revision A, dated December 9, 2019. The service information specifies
procedures for visually inspecting the entire aileron internal
structure, including front and rear spars, all aileron ribs, and upper
and lower skins; repairing or replacing any damaged part; and reporting
inspection results to Viking Air Limited technical support. 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 Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Service Bulletin V6/0066,
Revision NC, dated August 29, 2019. The service information specifies
procedures for visually inspecting the aileron ribs, including ribs and
both sides of the hinge arm; repairing or replacing any damaged part;
and reporting inspection results to Viking Air Limited technical
support.
FAA's Determination
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
and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely
to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action.
The inspection reports will provide the FAA and Viking Air Limited
additional data for determining the damage present in the fleet. After
analyzing the data, the FAA may take further rulemaking action.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
The MCAI applies to Viking Air Limited Model DHC-6 series 110, DHC-
6 series 210, DHC-6 series 310, and DHC-6 series 320, and this proposed
AD would not because these models do not have an FAA type certificate.
Transport Canada Model DHC-6 series 1, DHC-6 series 100, DHC-6 series
200, DHC-6 series 300, and DHC-6 series 400 airplanes correspond to FAA
Model DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200, DHC-6-300, and DHC-6-400
airplanes, respectively.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 33 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it
would take about 3 work-hours per airplane to comply with the
inspection and 1 hour to comply with the reporting requirement of this
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators would be $11,220 or $340 per airplane.
In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary follow-on actions
to replace an aileron would take 6 work-hours and require parts costing
$52,243, for a cost of $52,753 per airplane. The FAA has no way of
determining the number of airplanes that may need these actions.
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 currently 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
[[Page 3238]]
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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
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-2020-1003; Project
Identifier MCAI-2020-00962-A.
(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-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200, DHC-6-300, and DHC-6-400 airplanes,
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5700, Wing
Structure.
(e) Unsafe Condition
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 identifies the unsafe condition as cracks and
corrosion damage to the aileron internal structure. The FAA is
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks and other damage to the
aileron internal structure. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in progressive looseness of the aileron at the hinge
support rib push-pull rod attachment, flutter condition, and
degraded or loss of aileron control, which could lead to loss of
control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection and Replacement of the Aileron
At the compliance time specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of
this AD, inspect the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) aileron
internal structures for cracks, corrosion, and other damage and take
any necessary corrective actions in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions, steps II.A. through II.A.3. of Viking
DHC-6 Twin Otter Service Bulletin V6/0066, Revision A, dated
December 9, 2019 (Viking SB V6/0066, Revision A).
(1) For each LH or RH aileron that has accumulated 16,000 or
more hours time-in-service (TIS), 32,000 or more flight cycles (FC),
or 10 or more years since first installation on an airplane,
whichever occurs first: Within 6 months after the effective date of
this AD.
(2) For each LH or RH aileron that has accumulated less than
16,000 hours TIS, less than 32,000 FC, and less than 10 years since
first installation on an airplane: Within 6 months after
accumulating 16,000 hours TIS, 32,000 FC, or 10 years, whichever
occurs first.
(h) Reporting Requirement
Within 30 days after the inspection required by paragraph (g)(1)
or (2) of this AD or within 30 days after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs later, report to Viking the information
requested on the Inspection Reply Form, page 7, of Viking SB V6/
0066, Revision A.
(i) Credit for Previous Actions
You may take credit for the actions required by paragraphs
(g)(1) and (2) of this AD if you performed those actions before the
effective date of this AD using Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Service
Bulletin V6/0066, Revision NC, dated August 29, 2019.
(j) 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 (k)(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.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Deep Gaurav,
Aviation Safety Engineer, New York ACO Branch, FAA, 1515 Stewart
Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-7300; fax: (516) 794-
5331; email: [email protected].
(2) Refer to Transport Canada AD CF-2020-05, dated March 13,
2020, for more information. You may examine the Transport Canada AD
in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1003.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Viking Air Ltd., 1959 de Havilland Way, Sidney British Columbia,
Canada V8L 5V5; phone: (800) 663-8444; email:
[email protected]; website: https://www.vikingair.com. You may review 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. 2022-00994 Filed 1-20-22; 8:45 am]
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