AD/Supp/20 Rope Down Device (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.

Supplementary Equipment

AD/SUPP/20 Rope Down Device 7/2006

Applicability:

Helicopters equipped with police equipment EC135-AC62-POL in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate Z 25-20-62 Issue 4 or earlier, issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) of Switzerland.  The affected parts of police equipment EC135-AC62-POL include the following part numbers (P/Ns):

One person Rope Down Device, P/N 1351070, with Drawing Revision B or below;
Four person Rope Down Device, P/N 1351080, with Drawing Revision C or below;
Grip Frame right hand, P/N 1351085, with Drawing Revision E or below;
Grip Frame left hand, P/N 1351090, with Drawing Revision D or below; and,
Shear Bolt, P/N 1351211.

This equipment is known to be installed on Eurocopter EC 135 Series helicopters.

Requirement:

The use of affected parts listed in Applicability section of this Directive is prohibited until they are modified by the manufacturer.

Return the affected parts to the manufacturer, Bucher Leichtbau AG, for modification.

Shear bolts P/N 1351211, Bush P/N 0020164, Shear Bolt P/N 0020165, Shear Bolt P/N 1351233, and Shim P/N 1351058, held as spares, must be removed and discarded.

Note 1:  Switzerland FOCA AD HB-2005-428 refers.

Note 2:  Eurocopter Service Information EC135-076 and EC135-A072 refer; and Bucher Leichtbau AG Service Letter 25-SL-E01-02-05, and Service Bulletins
25-SB-E01-01-05 and 25-SB-E01-14-05, refer.

Compliance:

Before further use after 6 July 2006.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 July 2006.

Background: The affected Rope Down Devices and Grip Frames can be installed into the seat tracks of EC-135 helicopters.  During a routine inspection of EC135-AC62-POL equipment, it was discovered that, due to the dimensions of the engaging parts, positive retention may not be ensured.  Depending upon the height of floor covering, the Shear Bolt P/N 1351211 may be too short.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

23 May 2006