COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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 39.1 (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.

Agusta A109 Series Helicopters

AD/A109/33 Main Rotor Blade Tip Cap - 2 4/2003

Applicability:  Model A109E helicopters, equipped with main rotor blades part number 709-0103-01 (all dash numbers) having serial numbers up to and including 1428, preceded by code A5 or EM.

Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Agusta Service Bulletin No. 109EP-1 Rev. B, dated 19 December 2000.

Note: ENAC AD 2000-573 refers.

Compliance: Within 10 flight hours after 17 April 2003 for the initial inspection, unless already accomplished. Inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 flight hours.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 17 April 2003.

Background:  Cases of debonding of the main rotor blade tip cap have been reported. Investigation revealed extensive areas of debonding of the honeycomb core, resulting in cracks on the leading edge of the tip cap.

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 4 March 2003

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