Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16611 · Flight controls
Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate No. A-815 Formerly Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2011-18-11. Comply with the one in force.
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.
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.
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. |
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.
