COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Agusta A109 Series Helicopters
AD/A109/20 Main Rotor Hydraulic Actuators 1/94
DM
Applicability: All model A109A, A109AII and A109C series up to and including serial number 7670 excepting for serial numbers 7450, 7630, 7633, 7645, 7651, 7654 and 7663 which are excluded from this directive.
Requirement: Unless previously carried out, action in accordance with Agusta mandatory Bollettico Technico No 109-94.
Compliance: As specified in the requirement document with a revised effective date of 19 November 1993.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that during routine maintenance the retaining bolts from the main rotor hydraulic servo actuator had suffered loss of bolt torque.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish a schedule of airworthiness directives that ensure the safety of aircraft operations. One such directive, AD/A109/20, pertains to Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, focusing on the main rotor hydraulic actuators. This directive was introduced to address the issue of retaining bolts from the main rotor hydraulic servo actuators experiencing loss of bolt torque, which was identified during routine maintenance. The directive mandates that corrective actions be taken in accordance with Agusta's mandatory Bollettico Technico No 109-94, with compliance required as specified in the requirement document, effective from 19 November 1993. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Australian Parliament, established these regulations to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety and ensure the reliability and safety of aircraft operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, governs the safety directives concerning the airworthiness of aircraft in Australia, with this particular directive focusing on Agusta A109 Series Helicopters. The directive mandates action on the main rotor hydraulic actuators for all model A109A, A109AII and A109C series helicopters up to and including serial number 7670, with specific exclusions for serial numbers 7450, 7630, 7633, 7645, 7651, 7654 and 7663. The directive requires compliance with Agusta's mandatory Bollettico Technico No 109-94, unless previously addressed, to ensure that retaining bolts from the main rotor hydraulic servo actuator are maintained at appropriate torque levels, as specified in the requirement document with an effective date of 19 November 1993. The directive applies to these helicopters operating within Australia, and its implementation ensures adherence to safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives for Agusta A109 Series Helicopters. The regulation focuses on the main rotor hydraulic actuators, detailed in AD/A109/20. This directive applies to all model A109A, A109AII, and A109C series helicopters up to and including serial number 7670, with the exclusion of certain serial numbers (7450, 7630, 7633, 7645, 7651, 7654, and 7663) (section 1/94).
The main requirement of this directive is that unless previously carried out, the action in accordance with Agusta mandatory Bollettico Technico No 109-94 must be implemented (section DM). Compliance with this directive must adhere to the specifications outlined in the requirement document, with a revised effective date of 19 November 1993. The directive mandates that the corrective actions detailed in the Bollettico Technico must be executed to ensure the airworthiness of the specified helicopters.
The obligations imposed by this directive require the operators and maintainers of the specified Agusta helicopters to conduct a thorough inspection and necessary repairs or replacements of the main rotor hydraulic actuators as detailed in Agusta's technical bulletin. Operators must ensure that these actions are completed before the specified effective date, maintaining the aircraft's compliance with airworthiness standards. This includes verifying that all retaining bolts are properly torqued and that any necessary maintenance has been performed to prevent the recurrence of issues.
Failure to comply with this airworthiness directive may result in severe consequences. Civil penalties can be imposed for non-compliance, including fines up to the maximum allowable under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, continued operation of a non-compliant aircraft could result in enforcement actions by CASA, which may include grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. In extreme cases, criminal charges could be brought against individuals responsible for the non-compliance, leading to substantial fines and potential imprisonment.