COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Agusta A109 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A109/29 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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.
AD/A109/29
Amdt 2
Main Rotor Blades Tip Cap 2/2001 DM
Applicability: Model A109C helicopters equipped with main rotor blades part number 709-0103-01 (all dash numbers) with serial numbers up to and including 1428, preceded by code A5 or EM.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-106 Revision B, dated 21 December 2000.
Note: ENAC AD 2000-571 refers.
Compliance: Within 10 hours’ time in service after 10 January 2001, unless already accomplished.
Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours’ time in service. This amendment becomes effective on 10 January 2001.
Background: The manufacturer received several reports of cracking of the main rotor blade tip cap leading edge which caused a subsequent increase in the level of vibration. An investigation revealed extensive areas of debonding of the tip cap honeycomb core, which caused a pulsating effect on the tip cap and subsequent cracking.
Amendment 1 reflected the latest revision of the Requirement document.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new ENAC AD which mandates Revision B of the Requirement document.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 14 October 1998.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 14 August 1998.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 4 January 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 10 January 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include provisions for issuing Airworthiness Directives to address specific safety issues with aircraft. One such directive, AD/A109/29 Amdt 2, pertains to Agusta A109 Series Helicopters and specifically addresses issues with the main rotor blades tip cap. This amendment was enacted to ensure the safety of Model A109C helicopters equipped with particular main rotor blades, rectifying problems such as cracking of the tip cap leading edge. The problem arose from debonding of the tip cap honeycomb core, which led to increased vibration and subsequent cracking. This amendment responds to an earlier European Aviation Safety Agency directive and mandates inspections in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-106 Revision B. The directive aims to mitigate these safety risks by requiring inspections within a specified timeframe after its enactment on 10 January 2001 and at regular intervals thereafter.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, incorporates a series of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These directives are designed to ensure that aircraft and aeronautical products meet safety standards. The ADs apply to particular models and series of aircraft, such as the Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, and mandate specific actions to correct identified unsafe conditions. For instance, AD/A109/29 Amdt 2 applies to A109C helicopters with specific main rotor blade serial numbers. The directive requires inspections to be conducted in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-106 Revision B, with compliance mandated within 10 hours of service after a specified date, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of service. The ADs are applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all operators of the specified aircraft adhere to these safety measures. While the primary ADs are issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, further guidance and specific instructions may be detailed in subordinate instruments or technical bulletins, such as the Agusta Bollettino Tecnico referenced in the directive.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, particularly those with the model A109C equipped with certain main rotor blades. The directive mandates a specific inspection protocol to address identified safety concerns. The AD/A109/29 Amdt 2, issued on 2 January 2001, focuses on the inspection of main rotor blade tip caps (section 2/2001 DM) for A109C helicopters with serial numbers up to and including 1428, preceded by code A5 or EM. The inspection must be conducted in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 109-106 Revision B, dated 21 December 2000, which addresses the debonding of the tip cap honeycomb core that can cause increased vibration and subsequent cracking.
The AD outlines precise obligations for the operators and owners of the specified helicopters. They must ensure that the inspections are carried out within 10 hours of service time after 10 January 2001, unless already completed, and then at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of service time thereafter. This requirement is designed to maintain the airworthiness of the helicopters by regularly addressing potential structural issues in the main rotor blade tip caps.
Failure to comply with the AD may lead to serious safety issues, as the directive is issued to correct an identified unsafe condition. The consequences of non-compliance can include the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections are performed. While the regulations do not explicitly state the exact penalties or legal consequences for non-compliance, failure to adhere to such directives can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, suspension of the aircraft's operating certificate, or other regulatory sanctions, depending on the severity and frequency of the non-compliance.