AD/Dauphin/87 Optional Ski Installation (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.

Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters

AD/DAUPHIN/87 Optional Ski Installation 10/2006

Applicability:	Models SA 365 N and N1, and AS 365 N2 and N3 helicopters, equipped with the Eurocopter landing gear optional Ski installation.
Requirement:	Action in accordance with EASA AD 2006-0213.
Compliance:	As from the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 28 September 2006.
Background:	Eurocopter has discovered that the never exceed speed (Vne) indicated in the Limitations section of the Flight Manual Supplements, related to the optional Ski installation, is higher than the limit design speed of this installation.  Prolonged flight at a speed higher than the limit design speed could lead to failure of the Ski support. Such a failure could then prevent a safe landing of the helicopter.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

17 August 2006