COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation 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 A119 Series Helicopters
AD/A119/3 Vertical Gyroscopes 3/2002 DM
Applicability: All A119 helicopter equipped with vertical gyroscope part number (P/N) 501-1210- 01 (Goodrich Avionics Systems Inc. Model VG-208C) serial numbers (S/N) 2556 to 2694 inclusive.
Requirement: 1. Replace vertical gyroscopes P/N 501-1210-01 S/N 2556 to 2694 inclusive, that do not incorporate Modification 17, in accordance with Agusta Alert Bollettino Tecnico 119-3 dated 21 December 2001.
2. Vertical gyroscopes P/N 501-1210-01 S/N 2556 to 2694 inclusive, that do not incorporate Modification 17 may not be installed on any helicopter.
Note: Italian Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazone Civile AD 2002-004 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Before 28 February 2002.
For Requirement 2 - As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 January 2002.
Background: Agusta has advised that malfunction of the vertical gyroscopes, caused by incorrect installation of the pitch stop screw, may occur leading to instability of the helicopter during flight.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 22 January 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 30 January 2002.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, govern various aspects of aviation safety, including the maintenance and operation of aircraft and aeronautical products. One of the key provisions of these regulations is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address identified safety issues. The AD/A119/3, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 2002, is an example of such a directive, specifically targeting the Agusta A119 Series Helicopters. This directive was introduced to address the safety issue of vertical gyroscope malfunctions caused by the incorrect installation of the pitch stop screw, which could potentially lead to helicopter instability during flight. The directive mandates the replacement of specified vertical gyroscopes and prohibits the installation of non-modified gyroscopes on any helicopter, aiming to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive applies specifically to Agusta A119 Series Helicopters equipped with vertical gyroscope part numbers 501-1210-01, serial numbers ranging from 2556 to 2694 inclusive. The directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and mandates that these particular gyroscopes, which do not incorporate Modification 17, be replaced in accordance with Agusta Alert Bollettino Tecnico 119-3 dated 21 December 2001. Additionally, the directive prohibits the installation of gyroscopes that do not have the specified modification on any helicopter. This requirement must be met before 28 February 2002, with the prohibition taking effect from the directive's date of issue on 30 January 2002. The directive addresses the risk of malfunction due to incorrect installation of the pitch stop screw, which could lead to instability during flight. The directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, although its implementation may be subject to further clarification or enforcement through subordinate instruments or CASA's guidance.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 – 105 and the specific Airworthiness Directive AD/A119/3, mandate the replacement and prohibition of certain vertical gyroscopes in Agusta A119 Series Helicopters. This directive applies to all A119 helicopters equipped with vertical gyroscopes of part number 501-1210-01, serial numbers 2556 to 2694, inclusive (paragraph 2). The directive outlines two primary requirements (paragraph 3). Firstly, vertical gyroscopes that do not incorporate Modification 17 must be replaced in accordance with Agusta Alert Bollettino Tecnico 119-3 dated 21 December 2001. Secondly, vertical gyroscopes that do not incorporate Modification 17 must not be installed on any helicopter. The compliance dates set out in the directive require that the replacement be completed before 28 February 2002, and the prohibition on the installation of non-modified gyroscopes must be adhered to as of the effective date of the directive, which is 30 January 2002 (paragraph 4).
The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive on the parties governed by it include ensuring that all specified vertical gyroscopes are either replaced or removed from service. Operators of Agusta A119 Series Helicopters must comply with the directive by the specified deadlines, ensuring that any non-compliant gyroscopes are either modified to include Modification 17 or completely replaced. This involves close coordination with authorised service providers to ensure that the modifications or replacements are performed correctly and in accordance with the specified technical bulletin.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive can result in significant legal and safety consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences in this particular directive, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives generally can lead to severe penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. This can include fines, potential grounding of the aircraft, and enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Additionally, operating a helicopter with non-compliant vertical gyroscopes poses a serious risk to flight safety and can result in serious accidents or incidents, leading to potential criminal charges under aviation safety laws.