Airworthiness Directives; Viking Air Limited Model DHC-7 Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Viking Air Limited Model DHC-7 airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA-approved Airworthiness Limitations section of the airplane maintenance manual to prohibit operation of the airplane past its designed life limit for the primary structure, which is 80,000 total flight cycles. This AD also requires contacting the FAA for approval of analysis that substantiates that the airplane is safe to continue operation beyond the designed life limit. This AD results from a report that the designed life limit for the primary structure for the affected airplanes is 80,000 total flight cycles. We are issuing this AD to prevent continued operation of an airplane beyond its designed life limit for the primary structure, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.