AD/Ecureuil/67 Amdt 2 Rear Bench Cushions (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/67 Amdt 1 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/67 Amdt 2 Rear Bench Cushions 4/2008

Applicability:

Model AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D helicopters, equipped with a rear bench seat; unless modified in accordance with MOD 073166 (AS 350 Service Bulletin No. 25.00.70).

Requirement:

Remove any unoccupied cushions from the rear bench seat, unless the seat cushions are restrained by mechanical means approved in accordance with CAR35 in addition to the existing Velcro method.

Note 1:  Incorporation of optional Modification 073166 terminates the restrictions imposed by this Directive.

Note 2:  EASA AD 2008-0044 refers.

Compliance:

Before any flight with the door(s) removed or the sliding door(s) in the open position after 12 April 2001.

If the cushions are not restrained by additional mechanical means, a copy of this Directive is to be carried in the aircraft at all times.

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

This Amendment becomes effective on 10 April 2008.

Background:

The DGAC has received two reports of in-flight loss of the rear bench seat cushion in doors removed configurations.  The lost cushions might contact the main or tail rotor causing loss of control of the helicopter.

Amendment 1 introduced an alternate means of compliance to cushion removal in aircraft operating with sliding door(s) open or removed.

Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new EASA AD, which introduces optional terminating action to the flight restrictions.  The Type Certificate Holder designed MOD 073166 to improve the attachments of the rear bench seat.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 11 April 2001.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

29 February 2008