Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22240 · Elevator structure
Viking Air Limited (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Airplanes
This AD applies to Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple recent reports of cracks in the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar. This AD requires repetitive detailed visual inspections of the entire left-hand elevator auxiliary spar for cracks, corrosion, and previous repairs, and depending on the findings, replacement of the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar. This AD also requires sending the inspection results to the FAA. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes and is now issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
The definition of Levels 1, 2, and 3 corrosion are specified in Advisory Circular 43-4B, Corrosion Control for Aircraft, dated September 11, 2018. You may find this document at drs.faa.gov/search.
(1) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 3 days after effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, unless already done within the last 90 days, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 110 hours TIS, remove the left-hand elevator tab from the elevator and perform a detailed visual inspection of the entire left-hand elevator auxiliary spar for cracks, corrosion, and previous repairs. For the purposes of this AD, structural reinforcements are not considered previous repairs.
(2) If any crack, corrosion beyond Level 1, or previous repair is found during any inspection required by this AD, before further flight, replace the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar.
Within 10 days after each inspection, report the results of the inspection to the FAA at 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. Include the airplane serial number, airplane hours TIS, auxiliary spar TIS (if known), and any crack, corrosion beyond Level 1, or previous repair that is found.
