Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Model DHC-6 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5729-5730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1461]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27192; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-008-AD; 
Amendment 39-15350; AD 2008-03-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Model DHC-6 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

    Certain structural components must be replaced by new components 
at a certain stage of the aircraft's life to avoid any possibility 
of fatigue failure.

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 6, 2008.
    As of March 6, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this 
AD.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket 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, 
1600 Stewart Avenue, suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone: 
(516) 228-7325; fax: (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2007 
(72 FR 64010) and proposed to supersede AD 83-02-02, Amendment 39-4553. 
That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states that:

    Certain structural components must be replaced by new components 
at a certain stage of the aircraft's life to avoid any possibility 
of fatigue failure.

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 available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 166 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 30 work-hours per product to 
comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is 
$80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $988 per product. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. 
operators to be $562,408 or $3,388 per product.

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

    We determined that 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 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); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

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 the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,

[[Page 5730]]

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 removing Amendment 39-4553 (AD 83-02-
02, February 4, 1983) and adding the following new AD:

2008-03-01 Viking Air Limited: Amendment 39-15350; Docket No. FAA-
2007-27192; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-008-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 6, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 83-02-02, Amendment 39-4553.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200, and 
DHC-6-300 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 51: 
Structures.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
refers to the Product Support Manual (PSM) 1-6-11, Revision 5, dated 
January 11, 2000, which states:

    Certain structural components must be replaced by new components 
at a certain stage of the aircraft's life to avoid any possibility 
of fatigue failure.

The MCAI requires you to inspect, modify, and/or retire affected 
structural components to maintain the structural integrity of DHC-6 
airplanes.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, within 30 days after March 6, 2008 (the 
effective date of this AD), for all aircraft, incorporate the 
inspections, modifications, and/or retirement of components 
specified in Bombardier Inc.(formerly de Havilland) DHC-6 ``Twin 
Otter'' PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 28, 2007, into the 
aircraft maintenance program. The compliance times are specified in 
the manual. For aircraft that are approaching or have exceeded the 
threshold of the new or revised inspections introduced by this AD, 
compliance with the threshold inspection may be modified as detailed 
below:
    (1) Pre Mod 6/1117 Wing Assemblies:
    (i) If the last inspection done of the main wing spar attachment 
lug fastener holes, before March 6, 2008 (the effective date of this 
AD), was an eddy current inspection following Bombardier Inc. 
(formerly de Havilland) DHC-6 ``Twin Otter'' PSM 1-6-11, Revision 5, 
dated January 11, 2000; or PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 28, 
2007; do the repeat high frequency eddy current inspection in 
accordance with the schedule in PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 
28, 2007.
    (ii) If the last inspection done of the main wing spar 
attachment lug fastener holes, before March 6, 2008 (the effective 
date of this AD), was an ultrasonic inspection following Bombardier 
Service Bulletin 6/525, dated September 6, 1996, do the first high 
frequency eddy current inspection within 1,000 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) or 2000 cycles, whichever occurs first, after the last 
ultrasonic inspection. Repetitively inspect thereafter in accordance 
with the schedule in PSM 1-6-11, dated March 28, 2007.

    Note 1: Operators that do not have landing (or cycle) records 
may determine the number of landings (or cycles) by dividing the 
number of hours of time-in-service of each airplane by the time of 
the average flight for the aircraft of that type in the operator's 
fleet.

    (2) Post Mod 6/1117 and Post Mod 6/1630 Wing Assemblies: If the 
inspection threshold for the lower wing skin, stringers, and aft 
spar lower flange WS122 to WS263 (ribs 8 to 20) has been exceeded or 
will be exceeded within 6 months after March 6, 2008 (the effective 
date of this AD), do the first high frequency eddy current 
inspection within the next 500 hours TIS after March 6, 2008 (the 
effective date of this AD), or within the next 6 months after March 
6, 2008 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, 
following PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 28, 2007.
    (g) You may take ``unless already done'' credit if the above 
actions were done following the procedures described in Bombardier 
Inc. (formerly de Havilland) DHC-6 ``Twin Otter'' PSM 1-6-11, 
Revision 5, dated January 11, 2000.

FAA AD Differences

    Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: The MCAI references PSM 1-6-11, Revision 5, dated 
January 11, 2000. PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 28, 2007, has 
since been issued and is referenced for compliance in this AD.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office, 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: George Duckett, Aerospace 
Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion Branch, FAA, New York 
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, suite 410, Westbury, New 
York 11590; telephone: (516) 228-7325; fax: (516) 794-5531. 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) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned 
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

    (i) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD No. CF-2000-14, dated May 
25, 2000; and Viking Air Limited Structural Components Service Life 
Limits Manual PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 28, 2007, for 
related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6, dated March 28, 2007 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 service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bombardier Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, Garratt 
Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3K 1Y5; telephone: (416) 633-
7310.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, 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 January 18, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-1461 Filed 1-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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