AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/AS 355/70 Electric Hoists 2/2003 DM
Applicability: AS 355 helicopters versions E, F, F1, F2 and N, equipped with the optional Breeze, TRW, Lucas or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist and 26 M hoist box part number (P/N) 350A63-1136-01, not modified per MOD 073190, and delivered before 1 October 2002.
Requirement: 1. Remove and modify the hoist box in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter AS 355 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.00.71.
2. 26 M hoist boxes P/N 350A63-1136-01 not modified per MOD 073190, held as spares, may not be installed on any helicopter unless modified in accordance with paragraph 2.B.2.b. of the ASB.
Note: DGAC AD 2002-585(A) refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1:
Helicopters equipped with a Breeze 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist - Within the next 100 hours time in service (TIS) or 2 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this Directive.
Helicopters equipped with a TRW, Lucas or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist - Within the next 550 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this Directive or before replacing the hoist with a Breeze hoist.
For Requirement 2 - As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 8 January 2003.
Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/AS 355/70 (continued)
Background: This Directive requires the modification of the 26 M hoist box to prevent the failure of the Breeze hoist pyrotechnic squib electrical control to operate.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 20 December 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 January 2003.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on 20 December 2002 and published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 January 2003, is designed to address safety concerns identified with the Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. Specifically, the AD targets AS 355 helicopters versions E, F, F1, F2, and N, equipped with certain optional electric hoists and a specific hoist box part number, that were delivered before 1 October 2002. The primary objective of this AD is to prevent the failure of the Breeze hoist pyrotechnic squib electrical control to operate, which could lead to unsafe conditions during hoist operations. The directive mandates the modification of the hoist box in accordance with Eurocopter's Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.00.71 to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies to specific versions of the Eurocopter AS 355 Twin Ecureuil Series Helicopters, namely versions E, F, F1, F2, and N. These helicopters must be equipped with a particular electric hoist and hoist box configuration to fall within the scope of the AD. Specifically, the affected hoists are the optional Breeze, TRW, Lucas, or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoists, and the hoist boxes must have a part number of 350A63-1136-01, and must not have been modified in accordance with MOD 073190. Furthermore, these helicopters must have been delivered before 1 October 2002 to be subject to the requirements outlined in the AD. The directive mandates the removal and modification of the hoist box to address an identified unsafe condition, and specifies compliance timelines based on the type of hoist installed. This AD applies across the Commonwealth of Australia and its effectiveness is dated from 8 January 2003, as notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) cover the applicability, requirement, and compliance timelines. The applicability section (1) specifies the Eurocopter AS 355 helicopters versions E, F, F1, F2, and N equipped with certain electric hoists and a specific hoist box part number (P/N 350A63-1136-01) delivered before 1 October 2002. The requirement section (2) mandates the removal and modification of the hoist box in accordance with Eurocopter AS 355 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.00.71, and specifies that unmodified spare hoist boxes must not be installed on any helicopter. The compliance section (3) sets out the timeframes for implementing these requirements: helicopters equipped with a Breeze 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist must comply within 100 hours time in service (TIS) or 2 months, whichever occurs first; for helicopters with TRW, Lucas, or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoists, compliance must occur within 550 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, or before replacing the hoist with a Breeze hoist.
Operators and owners of the affected helicopters must ensure that the modifications specified in the AD are completed in the prescribed timeframes. This includes removing and modifying the 26 M hoist box as per ASB 25.00.71, and refraining from installing unmodified spare hoist boxes on any helicopter. Failure to comply with the AD could result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy, which could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Breach of the AD could result in significant consequences. The AD is a legal requirement issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, and non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. The specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself, but they could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory actions. Operators and owners must therefore take the necessary steps to ensure compliance to avoid these potential consequences.