COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter BO 105 Series Helicopters
AD/BO 105/15 Transmission Flange Shimming 8/92
DM
Applicability: All model BO 105 helicopters S/No S 1 up to and including S 876.
Requirement: Unless previously carried out action in accordance with MBB (Eurocopter) Alert Service Bulletin No ASB-BO 105-30-104.
Note: German AD 92-273 MBB/Eurocopters dated 29 April 1992 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the requirement document.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that shims fitted to the input/output shaft, installed in the main transmission, intermediate or tail rotor gearbox, may be incorrectly installed. If this condition exist, the pinion gear teeth will suffer rapid wear which if undetected will result in loss of tail rotor drive.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, address the need for stringent safety standards in civil aviation. One such regulation, AD/BO 105/15, pertains to the transmission flange shimming of the Eurocopter BO 105 Series Helicopters, specifically for models with serial numbers ranging from S 1 to S 876. This legislation was introduced to address the safety concerns arising from the potential improper installation of shims in the main transmission, intermediate or tail rotor gearbox, which could lead to rapid wear of the pinion gear teeth and consequently result in the loss of tail rotor drive. The policy objective is to ensure compliance with the specified requirements to mitigate these risks and enhance the overall safety of civil aviation operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Eurocopter BO 105 Series Helicopters, applies to all model BO 105 helicopters with serial numbers from S 1 up to and including S 876. The regulation mandates adherence to the requirement outlined in MBB (Eurocopter) Alert Service Bulletin No ASB-BO 105-30-104, ensuring that shims fitted to the input/output shaft in the main transmission, intermediate, or tail rotor gearbox are correctly installed. This is critical to prevent rapid wear of the pinion gear teeth, which, if left unaddressed, could lead to the loss of tail rotor drive. Compliance with these directives is essential to maintain airworthiness standards and ensure the safe operation of these helicopters within Australia and under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This regulation does not explicitly exclude any specific entities or operations, thus encompassing all relevant aircraft operators and maintenance personnel within the specified serial number range.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BO 105/15, which pertains to Eurocopter BO 105 Series Helicopters (Section 8/92DM). This directive applies to all model BO 105 helicopters with serial numbers from S 1 up to and including S 876, unless corrective action has already been taken in line with MBB (Eurocopter) Alert Service Bulletin No ASB-BO 105-30-104. The directive references a German Airworthiness Directive 92-273 issued by MBB/Eurocopter on 29 April 1992, indicating a shared concern regarding the transmission flange shimming.
The directive imposes specific obligations on the parties involved. Operators and owners of affected BO 105 helicopters are required to ensure that the shims fitted to the input/output shaft in the main transmission, intermediate, or tail rotor gearbox are correctly installed. This involves adhering to the specifications and instructions provided in the requirement document, which outlines the precise methodology for verifying and correcting the shim installation if necessary. The directive underscores the importance of compliance with these specifications to prevent rapid wear of the pinion gear teeth, which could lead to a loss of tail rotor drive.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/BO 105/15 can result in severe consequences. Civil aviation regulations in Australia mandate strict adherence to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. Non-compliance with these directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are completed. Additionally, operators may face fines or other penalties as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance. In the most serious cases, CASA may revoke the airworthiness certificate of the helicopter, rendering it ineligible for flight.
The consequences of non-compliance with AD/BO 105/15 are not limited to civil penalties. In the event that non-compliance results in an accident or incident due to the loss of tail rotor drive, operators could face criminal charges under the Criminal Code Act 1995, including charges of manslaughter or dangerous operation of an aircraft. The potential penalties for such offences can be severe, including substantial fines and imprisonment, reflecting the high stakes of ensuring aircraft airworthiness and safety.