AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A119/6 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.
Agusta A119 Series Helicopters
AD/A119/6
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Blades - 2 9/2002 TX
Applicability: All Agusta A119 Series helicopters
Requirement: 1. For helicopters fitted with tail rotor hub and blade assembly
P/N 109-8131-02-149, install a placard in accordance with Part I of Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6 Revision A, dated 12 July 2002.
2. For all Agusta A119 aircraft, inspect tail rotor blades in accordance with parts II and III of Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6 Revision A, dated 12July 2002.
3. For helicopters fitted with tail rotor hub and blade assembly
P/N 109-8131-02-149, action in accordance with Part IV of Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6, Revision A, dated 12 July 2002.
This Airworthiness Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The visual inspection required by Part II of Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6, Revision A may be performed and certified by the Pilot in Command who has been trained to do the inspection by an appropriately qualified person. In this case, a copy of the service bulletin and this Directive are to be carried in the aircraft.
Note: Italian ENAC AD 2002-367 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before further flight after the effective date of this AD.
2. (a) Part II - each airworthiness check and prior to each flight.
(b) Part III - Every 25 operating hours from the effective date of this AD and whenever any abnormal increase in Tail Rotor vibration occurs.
3. No later than 30 September 2002.
This amendment becomes effective on 18 July 2002.
Agusta A119 Series Helicopters
AD/A119/6 Amdt 1 (continued)
Background: This directive is issued following an ENAC AD which requires repetitive inspections of the part number 109-8132-01-111 tail rotor blades in response to an incident of a tail rotor blade fracture and consequent emergency landing of the helicopter. A tail rotor grip modification is also specified for helicopters with the P/N 109-8131-02-149 tail rotor hub and blade assembly fitted. A placard is also fitted to reduce Vne by 30 KIAS until the requirements of Part IV of Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6, Revision A are complied with, upon which the placard may be removed.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 July 2002.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 July 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 July 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Airworthiness Directive AD/A119/6 Amendment 1 in 2002 to address safety concerns related to Agusta A119 Series helicopters. This legislative instrument was issued under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, aiming to ensure that specific maintenance actions are taken to prevent unsafe conditions from leading to accidents. This directive responds to an incident involving a tail rotor blade fracture that resulted in an emergency landing. The policy objective is to mandate repetitive inspections and modifications to specific parts of the helicopters to enhance flight safety. CASA's directive includes installing placards, conducting inspections, and making modifications to tail rotor blades and hubs, as detailed in Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6 Revision A. These measures are intended to be implemented before further flights, at regular intervals, and by specific deadlines to ensure compliance and maintain airworthiness standards.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A119/6 Amdt 1 issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) applies to all Agusta A119 Series helicopters. This AD addresses specific safety concerns related to tail rotor blades and hub assemblies, requiring certain actions to be taken to mitigate identified risks. The AD mandates the installation of a placard and specific inspections for helicopters with a particular tail rotor hub and blade assembly part number, as well as broader inspections for all Agusta A119 aircraft. The directive applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and requires compliance by operators and owners of the affected helicopters. The AD outlines precise requirements for when and how these actions must be performed, including before further flight after the directive's effective date and at specified intervals thereafter. Notably, the AD allows for the visual inspection required by Part II of the Agusta Alert Service Bulletin to be performed by the Pilot in Command if they have been appropriately trained. This AD extends its application through subordinate instruments, including specific instructions and guidance detailed in the referenced Agusta Alert Service Bulletin.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A119/6 Amdt 1, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies to all Agusta A119 Series helicopters. The directive sets out specific actions that must be taken to address safety concerns related to the tail rotor blades of these helicopters. Section 1 requires the installation of a placard for helicopters equipped with tail rotor hub and blade assembly P/N 109-8131-02-149, in accordance with Part I of Agusta Alert Service Bulletin 119-6 Revision A, dated 12 July 2002. Section 2 mandates a comprehensive inspection of tail rotor blades for all Agusta A119 aircraft, as outlined in Parts II and III of the same bulletin. Finally, Section 3 specifies actions for helicopters with the P/N 109-8131-02-149 tail rotor hub and blade assembly, as detailed in Part IV of the bulletin.
The AD imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Operators of Agusta A119 Series helicopters must ensure that the placard is installed as required by Section 1. They must also conduct inspections of the tail rotor blades according to the guidelines in Sections 2 and 3, ensuring compliance with the bulletin's instructions. These inspections must be performed before further flight after the effective date of the AD, and at regular intervals or when abnormal vibrations occur, as detailed in Section 2(b). Operators must also ensure that the Pilot in Command, trained by an appropriately qualified person, can perform and certify the visual inspections specified in Section 2(a). A copy of the service bulletin and the AD must be carried in the aircraft when this is the case.
Breaching the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can lead to serious consequences. Operators failing to comply with the mandated actions may face civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The directive stipulates that compliance must be achieved by specific deadlines, such as before further flight after the effective date of the AD, or by no later than 30 September 2002 for certain actions. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, potentially leading to the grounding of the aircraft. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD, but they may include fines and imprisonment under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, depending on the nature and impact of the violation.