COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Agusta A109 Series Helicopters
AD/A109/9 Engine Mount Installation 6/87
Applicability: All models A109A and A109AII up to and including S/N 7361 except S/N 7359. Requirement: Action in accordance with Bollettino Tecnico 109-61 Part I and Part II.
Compliance: Within 100 hours’ time in service after 4 June 1987 or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 4 June 1987, whichever is later.
Note: RAI AD 87-43/109-42 refers.
Background: Chafing of an oil scavenge line against a mount leg has initiated corrosion which has in one case penetrated through the tubing.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, address various safety requirements for aircraft operations, including detailed directives for maintaining airworthiness. One such directive is AD/A109/9 concerning the Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, which was introduced to rectify a critical safety issue identified in these models. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aims to ensure the structural integrity of engine mounts to prevent potential failures due to chafing and subsequent corrosion of oil scavenge lines. The policy objective is to enhance the operational safety of these helicopters by mandating specific maintenance actions, as outlined in Bollettino Tecnico 109-61, to be completed within a defined timeframe after the directive's issuance.
The directive applies to all Agusta A109A and A109AII models up to and including serial number 7361, with the exception of serial number 7359. The required maintenance must be performed within 100 hours of the helicopter's time in service after 4 June 1987, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue, whichever is later. This proactive measure aims to prevent incidents of tubing penetration due to corrosion, thereby safeguarding the integrity and safety of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, specifically addresses the safety of Agusta A109 Series Helicopters through Airworthiness Directives (AD). This particular directive, AD/A109/9, pertains to the engine mount installation of all models A109A and A109AII, up to and including serial number 7361, with the exception of serial number 7359. The directive mandates that operators of these helicopters must adhere to the instructions outlined in Bollettino Tecnico 109-61, Parts I and II. The compliance timeframe requires that the specified action be undertaken within 100 hours of the helicopter being in service post 4 June 1987, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue following that date, whichever is later. This regulation underscores the necessity for maintaining the integrity of the engine mount installation to prevent issues such as chafing and resultant corrosion of the oil scavenge line, which could lead to more severe operational failures.
This directive applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring that all relevant helicopter operators comply with the stipulated safety measures. The scope of this directive is explicitly defined and excludes only the helicopter with serial number 7359, while the compliance requirement is non-negotiable. Additionally, the regulation may be further extended or detailed through subordinate instruments, which can provide more specific operational guidelines or additional requirements as necessary.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) under Part 39, specifically the Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for Agusta A109 Series Helicopters, include AD/A109/9 which addresses engine mount installation issues (s. 105). This particular directive pertains to all models A109A and A109AII, up to and including serial number 7361, with the exception of serial number 7359. The directive mandates that the engine mount installation must be carried out in accordance with Bollettino Tecnico 109-61, Parts I and II. Compliance with these technical bulletins is required within 100 hours of time in service after 4 June 1987, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after the same date, whichever is later. This directive references an earlier directive, RAI AD 87-43/109-42, providing a background context for the issue.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of the Agusta A109 Series Helicopters affected by AD/A109/9. Primarily, these obligations involve ensuring that the engine mount installation is performed as detailed in Bollettino Tecnico 109-61, Parts I and II. This means that any maintenance, repair, or modification work related to the engine mounts must adhere strictly to the technical guidelines provided in these documents. Additionally, the regulations necessitate that compliance be achieved within the specified timeframe of 100 hours of time in service or at the next scheduled inspection after 4 June 1987, whichever is later. Operators must also ensure that all relevant records are updated to reflect the compliance with this directive, maintaining traceability and accountability for the work performed.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/A109/9 could result in serious consequences under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The legislation does not explicitly detail penalties or offences for non-compliance with this specific directive; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to significant civil or criminal penalties. These may include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance on aviation safety. The potential penalties reflect the critical nature of ensuring that the specified maintenance actions are carried out to prevent hazards such as chafing and subsequent corrosion of the oil scavenge line, which could lead to catastrophic failures in service.