AD/Ecureuil/99 Amdt 1 Lateral Cargo Hold Doors (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/99 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/99 Amdt 1 Lateral Cargo Hold Doors 13/2006

Applicability:

Model EC 130 B4 helicopters, equipped with one or two lateral cargo hold doors not modified per MOD 073542 and not in compliance with Eurocopter EC 130 Service Bulletin No. 52-005.

Requirement:

Key-lock the centre lock of the left and right lateral cargo hold doors in accordance with paragraph 1.E.2.a of Eurocopter EC 130 Alert Service Bulletin No. 04A001.

Note:  DGAC AD F-2004-066 R1 refers.

Compliance:

Prior to each flight after 14 May 2004.

The compliance time remains unchanged by this issue.

This Amendment becomes effective on 21 December 2006.

Background:

During a flight test at the manufacturer’s facility, the centre lock of the lateral cargo hold door unlatched.  Unlocking of the centre lock in flight, combined with aerodynamic loads, could lead to failure of the lateral lock and result in loss of the cargo hold door.

Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which clarifies applicability and converts the Alert Telex Requirement document into an Alert Service Bulletin with the same reference number and no change to technical content.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

7 November 2006