COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Agusta A109 Series Helicopters
AD/A109/15 Modification of Overhead Console Relay Boards 1/89
Applicability: All Agusta A109A and A109AII helicopters up to and including S/No 7400 with the exception of S/Nos 7187, 7366 and 7396.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Mandatory Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No 109-73.
Compliance: On replacement of GCU box in accordance with the Requirement document, but in any case, prior to 26 January 1990.
Background: Lear Siegler Inc. introduced some minor modification to the GCU box P/N 51509- 002R which in some cases, when installed in A109 aircraft, has caused non operation of both No 1 and No 2 generators.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, address the critical issue of ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft within Australia's aviation sector. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to maintain high safety standards in the operation of civil aircraft. The regulation, AD/A109/15, was introduced to address the problem of non-operation of generators in Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, particularly those caused by modifications to the GCU box. The policy objective is to ensure that all modifications and repairs comply with the mandatory Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No 109-73 to prevent potential safety hazards.
The regulation applies to all Agusta A109A and A109AII helicopters up to and including serial number 7400, with specific exceptions for serial numbers 7187, 7366, and 7396. Compliance requires that the modifications to the GCU box must be performed in accordance with the specified technical bulletin, and in any case, the modifications must be completed before 26 January 1990. This directive is a part of CASA’s broader efforts to ensure that all aircraft operations meet stringent safety criteria, thereby protecting both crew and passengers.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, establish the scope and requirements for airworthiness directives pertaining to Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, including modifications of overhead console relay boards. This legislative instrument applies to all Agusta A109A and A109AII helicopters up to and including serial number 7400, excluding those with serial numbers 7187, 7366, and 7396. The directive mandates action in accordance with Mandatory Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No 109-73, with compliance required upon replacement of the GCU box as per the requirement document, and in any case, prior to 26 January 1990. This regulation is essential to ensure the safety and operational integrity of the specified aircraft by addressing potential issues arising from modifications to the GCU box, specifically part number 51509-002R, which, when installed, could result in the non-operation of both No 1 and No 2 generators. The legislation extends its application across the Commonwealth, governing entities and persons involved in the operation, maintenance, and oversight of these helicopters within Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) that mandates modifications to the overhead console relay boards of Agusta A109 Series Helicopters (section 1). This AD, AD/A109/15, applies to all Agusta A109A and A109AII helicopters up to and including serial number (S/No) 7400, with exceptions for S/Nos 7187, 7366, and 7396 (section 2). The directive requires compliance with Mandatory Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No 109-73, which involves making modifications to the overhead console relay boards (section 3). These modifications must be completed before 26 January 1990, specifically upon the replacement of the GCU (Generator Control Unit) box as per the requirement document (section 4).
The primary obligation imposed by this directive is the modification of the overhead console relay boards as specified by the Mandatory Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No 109-73. This action is critical to prevent the non-operation of both No 1 and No 2 generators, which could potentially lead to safety issues. Operators of the affected Agusta A109A and A109AII helicopters must ensure that these modifications are completed in accordance with the AD. Failure to comply with this directive could result in the aircraft not being airworthy, thus contravening aviation safety regulations.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose significant consequences for non-compliance with AD/A109/15. The safety of the aircraft and its occupants is paramount, and any failure to adhere to the mandated modifications can lead to severe penalties. While the specific penalties are not outlined in the AD, non-compliance can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or even grounding of the aircraft. Such actions are intended to ensure that all aircraft meet the required safety standards to protect public safety.