COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/AS 355/72 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 355/72
Amdt 1
Cyclic Control 5/2004
Applicability: Model AS 355 helicopters, versions E, F, F1, F2, and N, with MOD 070682 incorporated (Eurocopter AS 355 Service Bulletin No. 67.08), and before incorporation of MOD 073179.
Requirement: Accomplish the requirements of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin No.
67.00.24.
Note: DGAC AD F-2003-003 R1 refers.
Compliance: Before 12 March 2003, unless already accomplished. Thereafter, after each readjustment of the cyclic stick longitudinal nose-up control stop, accomplish Paragraph 2.B.1 of the Requirement document.
The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue. This Amendment becomes effective on 13 May 2004.
Background: The manufacturer determined that there could be a risk of interference when applying a load to the cyclic stick in the nose-up control stop position configuration, during a give-way manoeuvre.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which introduces the conversion of the previous Alert Telex Requirement document to Alert Service Bulletin, with no change to technical content.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the body responsible for overseeing the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. This legislation provides a framework for maintaining and enhancing the safety standards of aircraft and aeronautical products. The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were introduced to address the need for a comprehensive and enforceable set of rules and directives that ensure the safety of all aspects of civil aviation, including the certification of aircraft, the licensing of personnel, and the oversight of airworthiness directives. One such airworthiness directive is the Airworthiness Directive AD/AS 355/72 Amendment 1, issued by the CASA delegate on 2 April 2004, which aims to correct a specific unsafe condition related to the cyclic control of certain Eurocopter AS 355 series helicopters.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. This legislative instrument applies to certain model AS 355 helicopters, namely versions E, F, F1, F2, and N, which have been modified with MOD 070682 but have not yet incorporated MOD 073179. The AD requires adherence to the technical specifications outlined in Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin No. 67.00.24, ensuring corrective actions are taken to mitigate the identified safety risk associated with the cyclic control system. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft, with actions required before 12 March 2003 or after each readjustment of the cyclic stick longitudinal nose-up control stop post-12 March 2003. The AD is applicable across the Commonwealth and is enforceable by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, with the authority to revoke and issue new directives as necessary to maintain safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) under Part 39 - 105, establishes the framework for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The specific AD mentioned here, AD/AS 355/72 Amendment 1, pertains to Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, specifically versions E, F, F1, F2, and N, that have the MOD 070682 incorporated but before the incorporation of MOD 073179 (section 1). The AD mandates that the requirements outlined in Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin No. 67.00.24 must be fulfilled in certain circumstances and according to specific instructions (section 2). These compliance requirements must be met by a specified date, with an initial compliance date before 12 March 2003, and thereafter after each readjustment of the cyclic stick longitudinal nose-up control stop (section 3).
The obligations imposed by this AD require helicopter operators and owners to ensure that the corrective actions specified in the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin are implemented. This includes taking action to address the risk of interference when applying a load to the cyclic stick in the nose-up control stop position configuration, particularly during a give-way manoeuvre. The AD references a related French DGAC AD F-2003-003 R1 for additional context and guidance. Operators must ensure that the specified actions are carried out before the stipulated compliance times and that all relevant documentation is kept up to date and accessible for inspection by CASA (section 4).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can result in significant consequences. The AD is a legally enforceable directive, and non-compliance can be considered an offence under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Potential penalties for non-compliance can include fines and other enforcement actions. The specific maximum penalties are not detailed in the AD itself, but under CASR 1998, severe penalties, including substantial fines and potential criminal charges, can be imposed for breaches of airworthiness directives. Ensuring adherence to the AD is crucial for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft (section 5).