AD/S-Puma/76 Seat Harness Belt Buckle Blanking Plugs (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 AS 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters

AD/S-PUMA/76 Seat Harness Belt Buckle Blanking Plugs 6/2008

Applicability:

EUROCOPTER AS332 L1, AS332 L2 and EC225 LP helicopters, all serial numbers, equipped with the following seat harnesses, fitted with blanking plugs Part Number (P/N) 332V85134620 or P/N 332V85134621, except seat harnesses modified by Eurocopter MOD 332V080169:

Harness

P/N

Schroth

1-10-725203

1-10-P65203

AM-SAFE

503583-407-2251

503583-408-2251

504729-401-2251

Requirement:    

1.    Remove all blanking plugs with P/N 332V85134620 and P/N 332V85134621 from seat harness belt buckles installed on aircraft, in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 2.B of the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins referenced below, as applicable to the helicopter version;

(a)   If a removed blanking plug is found not failed, discard the plug and no further action is required;

(b)   If a removed blanking plug is found failed, before next flight, replace the belt buckle from which it was removed, in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 2.B.2.b of the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins referenced below, as applicable to the helicopter version;

2.    No person shall install any spare seat harness (as identified in the Applicability section of this AD) or its belt buckle as a replacement on an aircraft, unless it has been verified that blanking plugs P/N 332V85134620 and P/N 332V85134621 have been removed and found not failed; if found failed, before installation, replace the relevant seat buckle as required by paragraph (1)(b) of this AD.

Note 1:  EASA AD 2008-0075 and Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins 01.00.72 and 04A003 refer.

Note 2:  A helicopter may only be dispatched with non-replaced belt buckle(s) within the provisions of the applicable Master Minimum Equipment List item(s).

Compliance:

Within one month of the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 June 2008.

Background:

Recently, a report was received concerning the discovery of fragments of a plastic blanking plug (fitted to the harness belt buckle 5th attachment point) inside a seat harness belt buckle.  Over time, this blanking plug hardens and becomes brittle.  This condition, if not corrected, can lead to failure of the plug and fragments being caught inside the buckle, causing interference and preventing the belt from being released during an emergency evacuation of the aircraft.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

24 April 2008