[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10809-10811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05012]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 10809]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0189; Product Identifier 2017-CE-022-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3 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 pitting corrosion on the shank of the wing strut attach
bolts. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address
the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 27, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 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; telephone: (North America) (800)
663-8444; fax: (250) 656-0673; email: [email protected];
internet: http://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins. You may
review this referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and
Innovation Division, 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0189; 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 proposed AD, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York
11590; telephone: (516) 287-7329; fax: (516) 794-5531; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite 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-2018-0189;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-022-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider
all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed
AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued AD Number CF-2017-11, dated March 9, 2017 (referred to after
this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Viking Air
Limited Model DHC-3 airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing
airworthiness information originated by an aviation authority of
another country. The MCAI states:
Pitting corrosion has been found on the shank of the following
part number wing strut attach bolts: C3W114-3, C3W129-3 and C3W128-
3. These bolts are manufactured using a standard AN12 bolt.
Metallurgical evaluation concluded that pitting corrosion was
present on the affected AN12 bolts prior to forming of the bolt head
and threads. The pitting and un-plated voids could cause a surface
condition that may have a detrimental effect on fatigue and
corrosion resistance, leading to bolt failure and consequent failure
of the wing.
Viking has not been able to confirm the affected batch numbers
or specific manufacture date range. New wing strut bolts
manufactured after 21 March 2016 are inspected for pitting during
manufacturing and issued new P/Ns C3W114-5, C3W129-5 and C3W128-5
under MOD 3/1010.
You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0189.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Viking Air Limited has issued DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin Number
V3/0006, Revision B, dated March 9, 2017. The service information
describes procedures for inspection and any necessary corrective action
for pitting of the wing strut shank bolts. 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 of this NPRM.
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 our bilateral agreement with this State of
[[Page 10810]]
Design Authority, they have notified us of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are
proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and determined
the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 37 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $12,580, or $340 per product.
In addition, Table 1 is an estimate of possible necessary follow-on
actions as a result of the required inspections. We have no way of
determining the number of products that may need these actions. We
estimate that any necessary follow-on replacement parts would cost as
follows:
Replacing each affected bolt is on condition and is estimated to
take about 1 work-hour at $85 for a cost of $85 per bolt.
Table 1--Parts Replacement and Total Bolt Cost
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Total cost per
Part No. Quantity per Quantity per Price per bolt bolt (labor
wing airplane ($ USD) and parts)
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C3W114-5........................................ 2 4 $284 $369
C3W128-5........................................ 1 2 275 360
C3W129-5........................................ 1 2 164 249
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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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and
Innovation Division.
Regulatory Findings
We 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
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 AD:
Viking Air Limited: Docket No. FAA-2018-0189; Product Identifier
2017-CE-022-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by April 27, 2018.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3 airplanes with
wing strut bolts wing strut bolts part numbers (P/N) C3W114-3,
C3W129-3 and C3W128-3 (Pre MOD 3/1010), all serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 57: Wings.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by 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 pitting
corrosion on the shank of the wing strut attach bolts. We are
issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct pitting and un-plated
voids, which could cause a surface condition that may have a
detrimental effect on fatigue and corrosion resistance, leading to
bolt failure and subsequent failure of the wing.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this
AD, inspect the wing strut attach bolts installed on the airplane
for pitting on the shank following paragraph A of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Viking DHC-3 Otter Service Bulletin (SB) Number: V3/
0006, Revision B, dated March 9, 2017.
(2) If pitting is found after the inspection required in
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace the bolt
with either a post MOD 3/1010 wing strut bolt (Part Numbers (P/Ns)
C3W114-5, C3W129-5 or C3W128-5 as applicable) or a new or
[[Page 10811]]
serviceable pre MOD 3/1010 wing strut bolt that has been inspected
following paragraph A of Viking DHC-3 Otter SB Number: V3/0006,
Revision B, dated March 9, 2017.
(3) After the effective date of this AD, pre MOD 3/1010 bolts
may continue to be used provided these bolts are inspected for
pitting immediately before installation following paragraph A of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Viking DHC-3 Otter SB Number: V3/
0006, Revision B, dated March 9, 2017, and the accomplishment of the
inspection must be documented in the airplane maintenance records.
(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service
Information
This AD allows credit for the actions required in paragraph
(f)(1) or (2) of this AD if done before the effective date of this
AD following SB Viking DHC-3 Otter V3/0006 Revision NC or A.
(h) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): 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. Send
information to ATTN: Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, New York
ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, New York
11590; telephone: (516) 287-7329; fax: (516) 794-5531; email:
[email protected]. 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO
Branch, FAA; or Transport Canada; or Viking Air Limited's Transport
Canada Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA,
the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(i) Related Information
Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD Number CF-2017-11, dated March
9, 2017, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2018-0189. For service information related to this
AD, contact Viking Air Limited Technical Support, 1959 De Havilland
Way, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada, V8L 5V5; telephone: (North
America) (800) 663-8444; fax: (250) 656-0673; email:
[email protected]; internet: http://www.vikingair.com/support/service-bulletins. You may review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 6, 2018.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-05012 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
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