AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/AS 355/65 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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.
Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/AS 355/65
Amdt 1
Horizontal Situation Indicator 6/2004
Applicability: AS 355 helicopters Versions E, F, F1, F2 and N equipped with Bendix/King KI 525A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI).
Requirement: 1. Check the part number (P/N) of the KI 525A HSI installed on the helicopter.
Initially, no further action is necessary if the P/N is not 066-3046-07.
2. If the P/N is 066-3046-07, modify the HSI installation in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Telex 34.00.09 paragraph 2.A.1, for helicopters with the HSI connected to a single navigation system, or paragraph 2.A.2, for helicopters with the HSI connected to at least two navigation systems.
Note 1: Modification ion accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)
34.00.09 is considered acceptable for compliance with Requirement 2.
3. Before installing a KI 525A HSI P/N 066-3046-07 in place of a KI 525A HSI with P/Ns 066-3046-00, -01, -04 or -05 ensure that the HSI installation is modified in accordance with Requirement 2.
Note 2: DGAC AD F-2002-280-068 R1 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Remains unchanged as ‘Either within 100 hours time in service after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive or before 10 August 2003, whichever occurs first’.
For Requirement 2 - Before further flight after the Requirement 1 check. For Requirement 3 - As of the effective date of this Amendment.
This Amendment becomes effective on 10 June 2004.
Background: Eurocopter has advised the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile that KI 525A HSIs P/N 066-3046-07 may have been incorrectly installed on some helicopters. The incorrect installation may result in navigation errors.
The original issue of this Directive introduced measures to ensure that the affected HSIs were correctly installed.
Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/AS 355/65 Amdt 1 (continued)
This Amendment contains some minor editorial amendments, together with allowing credit for modifications carried out in accordance with the ASB and introduces measures to ensure that the helicopter is modified prior to the installation of a
KI 525A HSI P/N 066-3046-07.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 5 June 2003.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 30 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 May 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Amendment Instrument 2004 (F2006B02515) was enacted to address potential safety issues related to the installation of specific parts in certain helicopters. This legislative instrument was introduced to rectify an unsafe condition identified in Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters equipped with a particular model of Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI). The problem it sought to resolve was the potential for navigation errors due to the incorrect installation of KI 525A HSIs with part number 066-3046-07. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, issued this amendment to ensure that affected helicopters are modified before further flight and to clarify the compliance requirements for the installation of the specified HSI. The policy objective of this amendment is to maintain and enhance aviation safety by ensuring that all aircraft meet necessary safety standards and by providing clear instructions for the modification and installation of critical components.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters that are equipped with a Bendix/King KI 525A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI). This directive applies to the AS 355 helicopters in versions E, F, F1, F2, and N that have the specified HSI installed. The directive mandates checks on the part number of the installed HSI and, if necessary, requires modifications to the installation to correct potential navigation errors. The directive applies to both existing installations and future installations of the specified part number, ensuring that safety measures are adhered to both retroactively and proactively. The directive's geographic reach is within the Commonwealth of Australia, as it is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under federal aviation regulations. There are no exclusions or exemptions specified in this directive, meaning all applicable helicopters must comply with the outlined requirements. Subordinate instruments may further detail the implementation and enforcement of this directive, but the primary requirements are clearly stated within the text of the directive itself.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to Eurocopter AS 355 helicopters, specifically versions E, F, F1, F2, and N, that are equipped with the Bendix/King KI 525A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI). The AD is issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) and mandates actions to address a potential unsafe condition related to the HSI installation. Initially, the AD requires operators to check the part number (P/N) of the installed KI 525A HSI (Section 1). If the part number is 066-3046-07, the AD stipulates that the HSI installation must be modified in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 34.00.09, which provides instructions for helicopters connected to either a single or multiple navigation systems (Section 2). Additionally, before replacing an HSI with part number 066-3046-07 for another HSI with part numbers 066-3046-00, -01, -04, or -05, the installation must also be modified as per the AD’s requirements (Section 3).
Operators of the specified Eurocopter AS 355 helicopters must ensure that the required checks and modifications are completed in a timely manner. For Requirement 1, the check of the HSI part number must occur within 100 hours of time in service after the original issue of the AD, or before 10 August 2003, whichever comes first. For Requirement 2, any necessary modifications must be completed before further flight after the check. Requirement 3, which involves modifying the installation before replacing certain HSI part numbers, must be completed by the effective date of the Amendment, 10 June 2004. Failure to comply with these requirements may compromise the airworthiness of the helicopter and could lead to safety issues.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety risks, including potential navigation errors that could compromise flight safety. While the AD itself does not specify explicit penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with CASR requirements can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory penalties. The severity of the penalties may depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, and the potential impact on aviation safety.