Ad/Dauphin/86 Amdt 3 - Starflex Star Arm End Bushes (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/DAUPHIN/86 Amdt 2 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 SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters

AD/DAUPHIN/86 Amdt 3 Starflex Star Arm End Bushes 11/2008 DM

Applicability:

Model SA 365 N, N1 (all serial numbers);

Model AS 365 N2, N3 (all serial numbers);

Model SA 365 C, C1, C2, C3 (all serial numbers);

- All equipped with main rotor hub (MRH) Starflex stars (all part numbers).

Requirement:

1.    Visually check that the bonding of the bushes on the Starflex star arm ends has not failed and that the arm ends have not distorted; in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter AS 365 N Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.51, Revision 3, dated 18 August 2008 or SA 365 C Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.28, Revision 3, dated 18 August 2008 as applicable; or later EASA approved revision.

2.    On each Starflex star arm and on both sides (leading and trailing edge), visually check that there is no delamination in the composite material, in the area of the horizontal centre plane, flush with the bush, in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter AS 365 N Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.51, Revision 3, dated
18 August 2008 or SA 365 C Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.28, Revision 3, dated 18 August 2008 as applicable; or later EASA approved revision.

If the bonding of a bush has failed, and/or if a star arm end is distorted, and/or if there is delamination on the star arm end which exceeds one or more of the removal criteria specified in the applicable Eurocopter service bulletin, before further flight, remove and replace the Starflex star with a serviceable unit.

Note:  EASA AD 2008-0165, dated 28 August 2008 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Unless initial inspection already accomplished, within 10 flight hours after
22 June 2006.  Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 flight hours.

2.    Unless initial inspection already accomplished, within 10 flight hours after the   effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 flight hours.

The compliance time for Requirement 1 remains unchanged by this issue of the Directive.

This Amendment becomes effective on 11 September 2008.

Background:

The DGAC received reports of two cases of deterioration of a Starflex star arm end.  In one of these cases, the deterioration caused in-flight high amplitude vibrations, compelling the pilot to carry out a precautionary landing.

Amendment 1 updated the Requirement documents from Alert Telexes to Alert Service Bulletins, with no change to technical content.

Amendment 2 was issued in response to a new EASA AD, which introduced an additional inspection through revisions of the Requirement documents.

This amendment is issued to update the referenced service bulletin revision and to reference the new EASA AD number.  There are no changes to the requirements or compliance.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

29 August 2008