AD/A109/6 - Swashplate Bearing

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate civil aviation safety and operations within the country. A specific legislative instrument under this Act, F2006B01837, pertains to Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, addressing the safety concerns identified with the swashplate bearings. The instrument aims to ensure that the identified issues, such as overheating, lack of grease, and corrosion, are systematically addressed to maintain airworthiness standards. The objective is to safeguard the operational integrity and safety of Agusta A109A and A109AII helicopters, thereby preventing potential hazards that could arise from the aforementioned issues. Compliance with the directives set forth in this instrument is mandatory for all operators of these helicopter models. The legislative instrument mandates specific actions based on the service hours of the helicopters. For helicopters with less than 600 hours of total service time as of 30 September 1986, inspections and necessary actions must be carried out within 50 hours after this date and then at intervals not exceeding 50 hours. For helicopters that exceed 600 hours of service time, inspections must be conducted within 100 hours after 30 September 1986, or before 30 November 1986, whichever comes first, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 600 hours or 2 years, whichever is sooner. This systematic approach is designed to ensure continuous safety and compliance with the airworthiness standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, pertain to the safety and operational standards of civil aviation within Australia and its territories, enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, Part 39 - 105 within the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 pertains to Airworthiness Directives for particular aircraft models, including Agusta A109 Series Helicopters. This legislative instrument is applicable to all models A109A and A109AII, requiring compliance with Agusta B.T. No. 109-56. The directive mandates that swashplate bearings must be inspected and serviced according to specific intervals based on the total time in service of the helicopter. For helicopters with less than 600 hours of total time in service as of 30 September 1986, inspections are required every 50 hours of service after that date. For those with over 600 hours of total time in service, inspections must occur within 100 hours of service after 30 September 1986 or before 30 November 1986, whichever comes first, and then at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of service or 2 years, whichever comes first. This regulatory requirement aims to mitigate issues such as swashplate overheating, lack of grease, and corrosion, ensuring the continued airworthiness of the aircraft. The geographic reach of this legislation extends across the Commonwealth of Australia and its territories, ensuring uniform safety standards for all civil aviation operations within its jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to Agusta A109 Series Helicopters (AD/A109/6). This directive focuses on the swashplate bearing of models A109A and A109AII and mandates compliance with Agusta B.T. No. 109-56. The directive consists of two parts: Part I requires compliance within 50 hours’ time in service after 30 September 1986 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours’ time in service (Section 105.021). Part II applies to aircraft with more than 600 hours’ total time in service as at 30 September 1986, necessitating compliance within 100 hours’ time in service after 30 September 1986 or before 30 November 1986, whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 600 hours’ time in service or 2 years, whichever occurs first (Section 105.022). Entities governed by this Act, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must ensure that the swashplate bearing inspections and any required maintenance are performed in accordance with the specified intervals and Agusta B.T. No. 109-56. This includes conducting thorough inspections to detect signs of overheating, lack of grease, and corrosion, which were identified during investigations following reports of swashplate roughness. These obligations are designed to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of Agusta A109 Series Helicopters by preventing potential mechanical failures that could compromise flight safety. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this Airworthiness Directive may result in significant legal and financial consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive can lead to enforcement actions, including fines and potential prosecution. The severity of the penalties may vary depending on the extent of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety. Specifically, non-compliance with AD/A109/6 could result in fines of up to $200,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 for corporations, alongside other civil or criminal penalties as deemed appropriate by the court (Section 105.025). Such stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to these directives to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.