AD/S-PUMA/82 Amdt 1 Hydraulic Hoist Cable (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/S-PUMA/82 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 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters
| AD/S-PUMA/82 Amdt 1 | Hydraulic Hoist Cable | 10/2009 TX |
Applicability: | AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, AS 332 L1 and AS 332 L2 helicopters, all serial numbers, if equipped with a hoist beam Part Number (P/N) 330A87-2345 (dash numbers -00 to -06 inclusive), in combination with a tray-mounted single or double hoist, and which do not embody modification (MOD) 332A081113.00. |
| Note 1: The hoist beam P/N is engraved in the centre of the strut assembly. | |
Requirement: | 1. For all helicopters identified in the Applicability Statement, pending installation of a lower hoist beam fitting protector, unless previously accomplished, install a placard in full view of the hoist operator, stating the following: |
| IN CASE OF CABLE JAM AGAINST STRUT | |
| Note 2: If the cable jams against the supporting strut following large oscillations, no attempt should be made to raise or lower the load, in order to minimize the risk of damaging the cable and potentially severing it. | |
| 2. In case cable jamming occurs, check the condition of the cable in accordance with the instructions of the applicable Component Maintenance Manual and, if damage is found, take corrective actions accordingly. | |
| 3. For those helicopters with a hoist control electrical harness routed at the base of the hoist supporting strut, unless previously accomplished: | |
| a. Disable the hoist pyrotechnic shear function, in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 2.B.3 of Eurocopter AS332 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.02.08 Revision 1 dated 3 August 2009; and | |
| b. Insert a copy of the Appendix 1 of the ASB into the applicable Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM); and | |
| c. Install two placards, in full view of the flight crew and the hoist operator respectively, stating the following: |
| • on the instrument panel |
| HOIST PYROTECHNIC SHEAR FUNCTION DISABLED |
| • near the hoist operator station |
| HOIST PYROTECHNIC SHEAR FUNCTION DISABLED |
| 4. For helicopters equipped with a tray-mounted double hoist with the back-up electrical hoist power supply harness routed at the base of the hoist supporting strut, unless previously accomplished, either: |
| a. Install a protection of the base of the hoist strut assembly in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 2.B.2 of ASB 25.02.08 Revision 1 (MOD 332A081113.00), or |
| b. Install placards in full view of the flight crew and the hoist operator, stating the following: |
| IN-FLIGHT OPERATION OF THE HOIST IS PROHIBTED |
| After modification of a helicopter in accordance with Requirement 4.a., remove all the placards required by this Directive. |
| 5. For all other helicopters, except if equipped with a Right Hand side sliding door P/N 332A22-1165-01, unless previously accomplished, either: |
| a. Install protection of the base of the hoist strut assembly in accordance with approved instructions. Modification of a helicopter in accordance with paragraph 2.B.2 of ASB 25.02.08 Revision 1 (MOD 332A081113.00) is an acceptable method of compliance with this requirement, or |
| b. Install placards in full view of the flight crew and the hoist operator, stating the following: |
| IN-FLIGHT OPERATION OF THE HOIST IS PROHIBTED |
| After modification of a helicopter in accordance with Requirement 5.a., remove all the placards required by this Directive. |
| 6. For helicopters operated in accordance with Requirement 3 of this Directive, after modification of a helicopter in accordance with Requirement 4.a. or 5.a., unless previously accomplished, remove the Requirement 3.b. AFM changes and re-establish the hoist pyrotechnic shear function of that helicopter in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 2.B.2.e of ASB 25.02.08 Revision 1. | |
| Later revisions of ASB 25.02.08 Revision 1 approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are acceptable for compliance with the relevant requirements of this Directive. | |
| Note 3: EASA AD 2009-0178-E refers. | |
Compliance: | For Requirement 1 - Before the next hoist operation after the effective date of this Directive. |
| For Requirement 2 - Before the next hoist operation after cable jamming. | |
| For Requirement 3 - Before the next hoist operation after the effective date of this Directive. | |
| For Requirement 4 - Before next flight after the effective date of this Directive. | |
| For Requirement 5 - Not later than 31 December 2009. | |
| For Requirement 6 - Before the next hoist operation after modification in accordance with Requirement 4.a. or 5.a. | |
| This Amendment becomes effective on 13 August 2009. | |
Background: | An incident has been reported of a hydraulic hoist cable jamming against the base of the supporting strut of a dual hoist tray installation. The jamming occurred during a rescue at sea, while the load was lifted and subject to large oscillations. The load was transferred to the backup electrical hoist and safely brought onboard. However, when jamming against the hoist supporting strut, the hydraulic hoist cable damaged the back-up electrical hoist power supply harness which is routed through that area, resulting in a short circuit that fused and ruptured the hydraulic hoist cable. |
| This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further incidents of hoist cable jamming and consequent cable failure, possibly resulting in personal injuries and/or damage to the helicopter. | |
| AD/S-PUMA/82 (EASA AD 2008-0222-E) was initially issued requiring the implementation of a temporary limitation on hoist operation in case of cable jamming and installation of a lower hoist beam fitting protector to prevent the hoist cable jamming against the base of the supporting strut. |
| Since AD 2008-0222-E was issued, it has been noticed that some AS 332 helicopters may have their hoist control electrical harness routed in the same area of the supporting strut where the hoist cable jammed during the first incident. Should this electrical harness be damaged due to hoist cable jamming, this other condition, if not corrected, could lead to untimely firing of the hoist pyrotechnic squib, thereby shearing the cable, possibly resulting in personal injuries and/or damage to the helicopter. |
| For the reasons described above, this Amendment whilst retaining the requirements of the original Directive, it also requires disabling the hoist pyrotechnic shear function of some helicopters and the implementation of an additional limitation, pending modification. This Amendment also allows, under certain conditions, continued operation of the helicopter without modification. |
| The original issue of this Directive became effective on 23 December 2008. |
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
11 August 2009
0
0
0