AD/Para/16 Amdt 1 Techno 240-B Reserve Parachute (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/PARA/16 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.

Parachute Equipment

AD/PARA/16 Amdt 1 Techno 240-B Reserve Parachute 8/2006 DM

Applicability:

Parachutes de France Techno 240-B Reserve Parachute, part number R 01-240-B, all serial numbers.

Requirement:

Replace the slider and the steering lines as specified in Parachutes de France Service Bulletin BSV_06_001, dated 8 June 2006; and use only the parachute packing method specified in the Requirement document.

Note:  EASA Emergency AD 2006-0160-E refers.

Compliance:

Before use of an affected parachute.

This Amendment becomes effective on 14 June 2006.

Background:

The European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has determined that the opening altitude loss/opening time of the Techno 240-B reserve parachute is not acceptable.  Also, EASA has rejected the manufacturer’s proposed solution, Safety Bulletin BSC_06_002 dated 21.04.2006.  As a consequence, the original issue of this directive prohibited use of all Techno 240-B reserve parachutes.  This was considered to be an interim action until an acceptable solution was achieved.

Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new EASA AD, which requires compliance with a new manufacturer’s service bulletin before further use of any affected parachute.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

9 June 2006