[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10220-10224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3926]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-1192; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-020-AD;
Amendment 39-16611; AD 2011-05-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate
No. A-815 Formerly Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.)
Model DHC-3 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the
elevator control tabs for discrepancies and, if any discrepancies are
found, taking necessary corrective actions to bring all discrepancies
within acceptable tolerances. This AD also requires reporting certain
inspection results to the FAA. This AD was prompted by an evaluation of
revisions to the manufacturer's maintenance manual that adds new
repetitive inspections of the elevator control tabs. To require
compliance with these inspections for U.S. owners and operators we are
mandating the inspections through the rulemaking process. We are
issuing this AD to add new repetitive inspections of the elevator
control tabs. If these inspections are not done, excessive free-play in
the elevator control tabs could develop. This condition could lead to
loss of tab control linkage and severe elevator flutter. Such elevator
flutter could lead to possible loss of control.
DATES: This AD is effective March 31, 2011.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of March 31,
2011.
ADDRESSES: For information about the revisions to the FAA-approved
maintenance/inspection program identified in this AD, contact Viking
Air Ltd., 9574 Hampden Road, Sidney, BC Canada V8L 5V5; telephone:
(800) 663-8444; Internet: http://www.vikingair.com. You may review
copies of the referenced revisions 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Duckett, Aerospace Engineer,
New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7325; fax: (516)
794-5531; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to
the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on
[[Page 10221]]
December 7, 2010 (75 FR 75932). That NPRM proposed to require
repetitively inspecting the elevator control tabs for discrepancies
and, if any discrepancies are found, taking necessary corrective
actions to bring all discrepancies within acceptable tolerances.
That NPRM also proposed a reporting requirement requesting
information when the total maximum free play of the elevator servo tab
and trim tab relative to the elevator exceeds 1.0 degree (this is equal
to a maximum displacement of 0.070'' at the trailing edge of the servo
tab). Collecting this information will help us better understand the
service history related to excessive free-play in the elevator control
tabs for various Model DHC-3 engine configurations.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
Interim Action
We are continuing to evaluate the cause of the unsafe condition
identified in this AD to enable us to obtain better insight into the
nature, cause, and extent of excessive free-play in the elevator
control tabs. Based on this evaluation, we may consider further
rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 65 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection..................... 1 work-hour x $85 Not applicable.... $85 per inspection $5,525 per
per hour = $85 per cycle. inspection cycle.
inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We estimate the following costs to do any necessary follow-on
actions that will be required based on the results of the inspection.
We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need
this repair/replacement:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum repair............................. 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85... $50 $135
Moderate repair............................ 3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255. 150 405
Maximum repair............................. 6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $510. 450 960
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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),
(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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2011-05-02 Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate No. A-815 Formerly
Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.): Amendment 39-16611;
Docket No. FAA-2010-1192; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-020-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD is effective March 31, 2011.
[[Page 10222]]
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate No.
A-815 formerly held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model
DHC-3 airplanes, all serial numbers, that:
(1) Do not have the new elevator servo tab and redundant control
linkage installed according to Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
No. SA01059SE; and
(2) Are certificated in any category.
Subject
(d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport
Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight Controls.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from an evaluation of revisions to the
manufacturer's maintenance manual that adds new repetitive
inspections to the elevator control tabs. To require compliance with
these inspections for U.S. owners and operators we are mandating
these inspections through the rulemaking process. We are issuing
this AD to add new repetitive inspections of the elevator control
tabs. If these inspections are not done, excessive free-play in the
elevator control tabs could develop. This condition could lead to
loss of tab control linkage and severe elevator flutter. Such
elevator flutter could lead to possible loss of control.
Compliance
(f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actions Compliance Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the elevator control Initially within the next 50 hours Following Viking DHC-3 Otter
tabs for discrepancies. time-in-service (TIS) after March Maintenance Manual Temporary
31, 2011 (the effective date of Revisions No. 18, No. 19, and No.
this AD). Repetitively thereafter 20, all dated December 5, 2008.
inspect at intervals not to exceed
100 hours TIS.
(2) If any discrepancies are found Before further flight after any Following Viking DHC-3 Otter
during any inspection required in inspection required in paragraph Maintenance Manual Temporary
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, take (f)(1) of this AD in which Revisions No. 18, No. 19, and No.
necessary corrective actions to discrepancies are found. 20, all dated December 5, 2008.
bring all discrepancies within
acceptable tolerances.
(3) If, during any inspection Within 30 days after the inspection. Use the form (Figure 1 of this AD)
required in paragraph (f)(1) of We are collecting these inspection and submit it to FAA, Small
this AD, the total maximum free results for 24 months after March Airplane Directorate, Attn: Jim
play of the elevator servo tab and 31, 2011 (the effective date of Rutherford, 901 Locust, Room 301,
trim tab relative to the elevator this AD). The reporting Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
exceeds 1.0 degree (this is equal requirements of this AD are no
to a maximum displacement of longer required after that time.
0.070'' at the trailing edge),
report the results of the
inspection to the FAA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
[[Page 10223]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR24FE11.003
BILLING CODE 4910-13-C
Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement
(g) 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.
[[Page 10224]]
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 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 ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your Principal
Maintenance Inspector or Principal Avionics Inspector, as
appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight
Standards District Office.
Related Information
(i) For more information about this AD, contact George Duckett,
Aerospace Engineer, New York ACO, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7325; fax: (516)
794-5531; e-mail: [email protected].
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Viking DHC-3 Otter Maintenance Manual Temporary
Revision No. 18, Viking DHC-3 Otter Maintenance Manual Temporary
Revision No. 19, and Viking DHC-3 Maintenance Manual Temporary
Revision No. 20, all dated December 5, 2008, to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For information about the revisions to the maintenance
program identified in this AD, contact Viking Air Ltd., 9574 Hampden
Road, Sidney, BC Canada V8L 5V5; telephone: (800) 663-8444;
Internet: http://www.vikingair.com.
(3) You may review copies of the referenced revisions 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.
(4) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 2011.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3926 Filed 2-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P