AD/A119/10 Hydraulic Pipe Interference (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Agusta A119 Series Helicopters

AD/A119/10 Hydraulic Pipe Interference 11/2007

Applicability:

Agusta Model A119 helicopters fitted with hydraulic pipes Part Number (P/N)
109-0761-64-103 or P/N 109-0761-65-103.

Requirement:

1.    Inspect and replace as necessary, the hydraulic pipes detailed in the applicability section of this AD, in accordance with Part I and Part II of Agusta Bollettino Tecnico (BT) 119-22.

2.    Replace hydraulic pipes, P/N 109-0761-64-103, and P/N 109-0761-65-103 with new pipes P/N 109-0763-96-101 and P/N 109-0763-97-101 in accordance with Part II of Agusta BT 119-22.

Installation of new pipes P/N 109-0763-96-101 and P/N 109-0763-97-101 is a terminating action for the inspections detailed in Requirement 1 and 2 of this AD.

3.    Do not install hydraulic pipes with P/N 109-0761-64-103 and P/N
109-0761-65-103 on any Agusta A119 helicopter.

Note:  EASA AD 2007-0231dated 23 August 2007 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Within the next 50 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 flight hours.

2.    No later than 31 July 2008.

3.    From 31 July 2008.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 October 2007.

Background: Some cases of interference between the hydraulic pipe and the tail rotor control rod assembly have been detected on A109E helicopters, Agusta issued the “Bollettino Tecnico” 109EP-73 and 119-22, in order to provide instructions to check for possible interference in the affected area and also to introduce two new pipes P/N
109-0763-96-101 and P/N 109-0763-97-101, that coupled with a new fixing method allow increasing the clearance between pipes and the tail rotor control rod assembly.  The interference, if not corrected, could damage the hydraulic pipes and lead to the loss of the hydraulic system N° 1 in flight.  This AD is issued to extend the same mandatory corrective actions to A119 model due to its design similarity with A109E.

Charles Lenarcic
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

6 September 2007