COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/AS 355/7
Amdt 5
Tail Rotor Blade Spar 5/94
Applicability: All models fitted with all dash numbers of tail rotor blades P/N 350A12-0030, 355A12-0031, 355A12-0040, and 355A12-0050.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Eurocopter AS 355 SB No. 05-06 Revision 6.
Note: DGAC AD 84-045-022(B)R4 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document.
This Directive must be entered onto the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. Paragraph C1 of the Requirement Document may be performed by the pilot in command, in which case a certification is to be made by entering AD/AS 355/7 Amdt 5 against the Daily Inspection certification on the Maintenance Release. A copy of this Directive and of the Requirement Document must be carried in the aircraft.
Background: This Directive was initially raised following reports of cracking, leading to severe unbalance at the blade root on the tail rotor spar. Amendments 1 to 3 extended both the compliance times and the applicable part numbers. Amendment 4 further extended the part number applicability.
Amendment 5 is issued in response to revision 6 of the Requirement Document which clarifies compliance conditions.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) through the legislative instrument F2006B02519, introduced a specific Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. This legislation was enacted to address the issue of cracking and severe imbalance at the blade root on the tail rotor spar of these helicopters. The objective of AD/AS 355/7 Amendment 5 is to ensure compliance with Eurocopter's Service Bulletin No. 05-06 Revision 6, which details the necessary actions to rectify the identified issues. Compliance with this directive mandates that the actions specified in the requirement document are performed and documented appropriately in the aircraft's maintenance records. Furthermore, CASA mandates that a copy of this directive and the requirement document must be carried onboard the aircraft at all times. This directive aims to enhance safety and reliability in the operation of the affected helicopter models.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to airworthiness directives that ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. The regulation applies to all Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters fitted with specific tail rotor blades, namely P/N 350A12-0030, 355A12-0031, 355A12-0040, and 355A12-0050. The directive mandates that operators of these helicopters comply with the actions outlined in Eurocopter AS 355 SB No. 05-06 Revision 6, which addresses issues such as cracking and severe unbalance at the blade root of the tail rotor spar. Compliance with this directive is critical and must be documented on the Maintenance Release, with certain certifications permissible for the pilot in command. The regulation ensures that a copy of both the directive and the requirement document is carried onboard the aircraft, reinforcing the necessity for strict adherence to safety standards. This directive is part of a series of amendments aimed at enhancing the safety and airworthiness of the specified helicopter models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, sets forth the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. One such directive is AD/AS 355/7 Amendment 5, which pertains to the tail rotor blade spar. The directive applies to all models of the Eurocopter AS 355 series fitted with tail rotor blades with specific part numbers: 350A12-0030, 355A12-0031, 355A12-0040, and 355A12-0050 (section 5/94). The primary requirement of this directive is that actions must be taken in accordance with Eurocopter AS 355 Service Bulletin No. 05-06 Revision 6, which outlines the necessary maintenance procedures.
Operators and maintenance personnel are obligated to adhere to the detailed instructions in the Requirement Document, ensuring that any identified issues with the tail rotor blade spar are addressed appropriately. Compliance with this directive involves entering the directive into the aircraft's Maintenance Release as maintenance required. Additionally, Paragraph C1 of the Requirement Document may be performed by the pilot in command, with a certification made by entering AD/AS 355/7 Amdt 5 against the Daily Inspection certification on the Maintenance Release. It is also necessary to carry a copy of this directive and the Requirement Document in the aircraft at all times.
Failure to comply with this directive may result in serious safety implications, given the critical nature of the tail rotor blade spar. Non-compliance could lead to severe unbalance at the blade root, potentially resulting in catastrophic failure during flight. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance within the directive itself; however, non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations.