AD/As 355/78 Amdt 1 Hoist Operator's Belt Snap Hook (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/AS 355/78 and issues the following 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.

Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/AS 355/78 Amdt 1 Hoist Operator's Belt Snap Hook 11/2006

Applicability:

Model AS 355 E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters; without MOD 073299 incorporated; and,

equipped with an operator’s belt (called “hoist operator’s belt”) part numbers 330A87-0730-00, 330A87-2371-00, 341A84-1120-00, 350A84-0047-00,
360A84-0040-00, 360A84-0040-01, and 360A84-0040-02, fitted with a snap hook part number GA343-95; or,

equipped with an operator’s belt (called “hoist operator’s belt”) part number 3160S73-08-200-1, fitted with a snap hook part number 4100-80AT28.

Requirement:

1.    Action in accordance with paragraph 2.B. of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 25.00.79.

2.    Remove the lever-type snap hook, part number GA343-95 or part number
4100-80AT28, and replace it with a quick-release shackle part number
365A84-5033-20, in accordance with paragraph 2.B. of ASB No. 25.00.83.

3.    Modify the stock of operators’ belts and lever-type snap hooks held as spares, in accordance with paragraph 2.B.6.a. and 2.B.6.b. of ASB No. 25.00.83.

Note:  EASA AD 2006-0252 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Before each use of the “hoist operator’s belt”; until compliance with
Requirement 2.

2. and 3.  Before 31 December 2006.

This Amendment becomes effective on 26 October 2006.

Background:

Untimely unlocking of the “hoist operator’s belt” was detected in operation.  This unlocking caused no incident and no injury.  As a precaution, and pending an upgrade to the belt design, this Directive requires certain actions before each use.

Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new EASA AD which converts the Requirement 1 document to an Alert Service Bulletin with the same reference number, and requires the replacement of lever-type snap hooks with a quick-release shackle.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

13 September 2006