AD/AS 355/36 Amdt 1 - Aft Section Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Bearing

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aim to address safety issues by issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for various aircraft, including helicopters. The AD/AS 355/36 Amendment 1 concerning the aft section tail rotor drive shaft bearing for Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series helicopters was enacted to rectify the problem of in-service failures of the drive shaft bearings. This AD ensures that all AS 355 E, F, F1, F2, and N Series helicopters comply with the revised inspection requirements as per Eurocopter Service Bulletin AS 355 No 05-02 Revision 4, with an effective date of 30 June 1993. The policy objective behind this legislation is to enhance the safety standards of civil aviation by mandating timely and precise inspections of critical components, thereby preventing potential accidents. The enactment of this AD by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 was in response to documented failures in the aft section tail rotor drive shaft bearings of Eurocopter AS 355 Series helicopters. By updating the inspection requirements and referencing the manufacturer's service bulletin, the legislation ensures that all relevant helicopters receive the necessary maintenance to avoid in-service failures, thereby maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation. This amendment was crucial in addressing the identified safety gap and ensuring the continued airworthiness of these aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulation in question applies to all AS 355 E, F, F1, F2, and N series helicopters within the Australian jurisdiction. This encompasses all entities that operate these specific models of helicopters under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The directive mandates that all relevant helicopter operators must adhere to the specified action outlined in Eurocopter Service Bulletin AS 355 No 05-02 Revision 4. The scope of this legislation extends to ensuring the safety of these aircraft through regular and rigorous inspections of the aft section tail rotor drive shaft bearing. This requirement is crucial given the historical incidence of in-service failures associated with this component. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for all relevant entities, with an effective date set as 30 June 1993. The legislation also references the DGAC AD 82-078-005(B)R4, indicating alignment with international standards and practices. There are no specified exclusions or exemptions within the text of this regulation, and it is expected that any further application or restrictions will be governed by subordinate instruments issued by CASA.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this regulation, specifically AD/AS 355/36 Amendment 1, pertain to the aft section tail rotor drive shaft bearing of the Eurocopter AS 355 series helicopters, including models E, F, F1, F2, and N (section 1). This directive mandates that all affected helicopters must adhere to the requirements set forth in Eurocopter Service Bulletin AS 355 No 05-02 Revision 4 (section 2). The compliance date has been revised to 30 June 1993, aligning with the effective date specified in the requirement document (section 3). This Act imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of the Eurocopter AS 355 series helicopters. These obligations include conducting inspections of the aft section tail rotor drive shaft bearings in accordance with the prescribed service bulletin (section 4). The compliance must be carried out by certified technicians or engineers who are qualified under the relevant aviation safety regulations (section 5). Furthermore, operators are required to maintain detailed records of all inspections and any subsequent maintenance actions taken to ensure traceability and accountability (section 6). Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act may result in significant consequences. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose penalties for non-compliance, which can include fines and potential grounding of the affected aircraft (section 7). The severity of the penalty may depend on the extent of non-compliance and any resultant safety risks (section 8). Additionally, operators may face legal action if the non-compliance leads to an aviation incident or accident (section 9). The maximum penalties for breaches of these regulations may include fines up to a specified amount, as determined by CASA, and possible imprisonment for serious violations (section 10).