AD/Ecureuil/10 Amdt 6 Retirement Life Fatigue Critical Components (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/ECUREUIL/10 Amdt 5 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 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/ECUREUIL/10 Amdt 6 Retirement Life - Fatigue
Critical Components 5/2007

Applicability:

All models.

Requirement:

All Service Life Limited components shall be retired from service at or before the times shown in the AS 350 series Master Servicing Recommendations, Section 5.99, at the following issue and revision status:

AS350B  Issue date 2001.04.26  Revision 005 dated 2005.10.10

AS350B1  Issue date 2001.04.26  Revision 005 dated 2005.10.10

AS350B2  Issue date 2001.04.26  Revision 005 dated 2005.10.10

AS350B3  Issue date 2001.04.26  Revision 005 dated 2005.10.10

AS350BA  Issue date 2001.04.26  Revision 005 dated 2005.10.10

AS350D  Issue date 2001.04.26  Revision 005 dated 2005.10.10

Later revisions, when they are released, can be used in lieu of the above listed documents.

Note 1:  The Issue and Revision numbers quoted above refer to the Airworthiness Limitations section only, rather than the MSR as a whole.

Note 2:  Operators of aircraft engaged in unusual manoeuvres, such as agricultural, or cattle mustering or operations where consistently more than four rotor full stop flights per hour are achieved must consult the manufacturer giving full details including previous history of all operations for possible life revision and must advise the Authority accordingly.  For the purposes of notification two flights concluding with rotor turning while on the ground and the engine at idle or greater power setting shall be counted as equivalent to one flight with rotors to a full stop.

Compliance:

Forthwith.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 May 2007.

Background:

Amendment 5 updated the directive to include all models.  Reference to SB 01-18 has been deleted as the affected components are no longer listed in the airworthiness limitations.  Reference to SB 01-20 has also been deleted as the affected bolt lives have been included in the airworthiness limitations.

Amendment 6 is issued to update the Master Servicing Recommendations listed in the requirements, to the latest issue.

The original issue of this AD became effective in November 1990.

David Punshon
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

30 March 2007