AD/AS 355/15 Amdt 1 - Sliding Door Ball Joint - Inspection and Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, address various safety and operational aspects of civil aviation within the country. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations, which includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertains to maintaining and ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft. The introduction of Airworthiness Directive AD/AS 355/15 Amendment 1 for the Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters was motivated by incidents involving the loss of sliding doors during flight. This directive mandates a detailed inspection and modification of the sliding door ball joint to prevent future occurrences of such incidents. The policy objective behind this regulation is to enhance aviation safety by rectifying identified structural issues and implementing preventive measures. The legislative instrument F2006B02472, which pertains to these Civil Aviation Regulations, was developed to ensure compliance with international safety standards and to safeguard the integrity and safety of civil aviation operations. It incorporates directives from recognised aeronautical authorities such as Aerospatiale, ensuring that the measures taken are grounded in established safety practices and industry standards. This directive reflects the commitment of the Australian government to uphold high safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting both the public and aviation personnel.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, with a focus on the Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) series helicopters. This regulation applies to all models of the AS 355 equipped with sliding doors. It mandates inspections and modifications to the sliding door ball joint, as outlined in Aerospatiale telex service 05.11 (Telex No. 7223 refers) and Aerospatiale SB No. 52.01 (Modification AMS 350A.07.1353). Compliance with these directives is required within 50 hours of time in service after 5th September 1983, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 300 hours until the specified modification has been incorporated. Additionally, inspections must be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1984 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after 31 July 1984, whichever is later. This directive aims to address safety issues stemming from two incidents involving the loss of a sliding door in flight, ensuring that the aircraft remains airworthy according to the standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, known as AD/AS 355/15 Amendment 1. This directive concerns the inspection and modification of the sliding door ball joint (sections 1-2). The directive mandates that all models of the AS 355 equipped with sliding doors must comply with the specified inspection and modification requirements. Compliance is required within 50 hours after the fifth of September 1983 and then at intervals not exceeding 300 hours thereafter until the modification AMS 07.1353 is incorporated (section 1). Additionally, compliance must occur within 100 hours after the thirty-first of July 1984 or at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after that date, whichever is later (section 2). This requirement is grounded in Aerospatiale's service bulletin number 52.01, which addresses the modification of the sliding door ball joint to prevent recurring disassembly issues. These changes follow incidents where sliding doors were lost in flight. The obligations imposed by this directive on operators of the Eurocopter AS 355 helicopters include regular inspections and modifications of the sliding door ball joints. Operators must ensure that these checks are performed within the specified time intervals post the key dates mentioned. The directive mandates that operators must adhere to the modification AMS 07.1353, which is intended to prevent the ball joint from disassembling in flight. Operators must also maintain records of these inspections and modifications, as they are crucial for ensuring the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/AS 355/15 Amendment 1 can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance could potentially lead to the recurrence of issues such as the loss of sliding doors in flight, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. While the regulations do not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory penalties. The severity of these penalties can vary, but they are designed to ensure that operators take the necessary steps to maintain the safety of their aircraft.