[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


