AD 2011-05-02 Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate No. A-815 Formerly Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 Airplanes

Models named: DHC-3. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

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.

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.   Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Inspect the elevator control tabs for discrepancies. Initially within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after March 31, 2011 (the effective date of this AD). Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS. Following Viking DHC-3 Otter Maintenance Manual Temporary Revisions No. 18, No. 19, and No. 20, all dated December 5, 2008. (2) If any discrepancies are found during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, take necessary corrective actions to bring all discrepancies within acceptable tolerances. Before further flight after any inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD in which discrepancies are found. Following Viking DHC-3 Otter Maintenance Manual Temporary Revisions No. 18, No. 19, and No. 20, all dated December 5, 2008. (3) If, during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, 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), report the results of the inspection to the FAA. Within 30 days after the inspection. We are collecting these inspection results for 24 months after March 31, 2011 (the effective date of this AD). The reporting requirements of this AD are no longer required after that time. Use the form (Figure 1 of this AD) and submit it to FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Attn: Jim Rutherford, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. BILLING CODE 4910-13-P ER24FE11.003 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. 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: george.duckett@faa.gov . 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

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.