AD/DAUPHIN/22 - TRGB Mounting Tripod

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Among these regulations, Part 39 specifically addresses airworthiness directives to maintain the safety and reliability of aircraft in operation. One such directive, AD/DAUPHIN/22, pertains to the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters, specifically targeting cracking initiated by corrosion at the root of one of the three arms of the tail rotor gearbox mounting tripod. This directive was introduced to address the identified safety issue and aims to ensure that such problems are promptly identified and rectified to prevent potential in-flight failures. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for SA 365C, C1, C2, and C3 helicopters, requiring corrective action in accordance with Aerospatiale SB 01.22A within 50 hours of time in service after 25 January 1989 and subsequently every 400 hours time in service. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation by ensuring that aircraft are regularly inspected and maintained to prevent structural failures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, apply to the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters, specifically to the SA 365C, C1, C1, C2, and C3 models. The regulations mandate compliance with the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the TRGB mounting tripod, which requires action in accordance with Aerospatiale Service Bulletin (SB) 01.22A. This directive is designed to address the issue of cracking initiated by corrosion detected at the root of one of the three arms of the tail rotor gearbox mounting tripod. The applicability of these regulations extends throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a consistent standard of airworthiness across all states and territories. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and must be achieved within 50 hours of time in service after 25 January 1989 and subsequently every 400 hours of time in service. These regulations are further supported by the French Civil Aviation Authority's Airworthiness Directive AD 88-189-030 (B), highlighting international collaboration in maintaining safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, includes specific Airworthiness Directives (AD) that govern the safety requirements for certain aircraft, such as the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters. One such directive, AD/DAUPHIN/22, pertains to the TRGB Mounting Tripod. This directive applies to SA 365C, C1, C2, and C3 helicopters (section 39-105). The requirement outlined in this directive is that operators must take action in accordance with Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 01.22A, which addresses the issue of cracking initiated by corrosion at the root of one of the three arms of the tail rotor gearbox mounting tripod. The directive references DGAC AD 88-189-030 (B) for further context. Compliance with this directive must occur within 50 hours of time in service after 25 January 1989 and subsequently every 400 hours of time in service. Operators of the specified helicopters must adhere to several obligations as outlined in this directive. They must ensure that the TRGB Mounting Tripod is inspected and maintained as per the instructions in Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 01.22A. This includes conducting thorough checks for any signs of cracking or corrosion, particularly at the root of the mounting tripod’s arms. If any defects are identified, appropriate corrective actions must be taken to rectify the issues. Operators must also keep detailed records of all inspections and maintenance activities related to the mounting tripod to demonstrate compliance with the directive. Failure to comply with AD/DAUPHIN/22 may result in serious safety implications, as the directive directly addresses a critical component of the helicopter’s tail rotor gearbox. While the specific Civil Aviation Regulations do not detail the exact civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive, non-compliance generally leads to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions could include the issuance of a Notice of Unauthorized Equipment (NOUE), grounding of the aircraft, or other administrative penalties. In severe cases, the consequences could extend to more stringent enforcement measures, including potential criminal charges if the non-compliance results in a safety incident or accident. Therefore, operators must take the directive seriously and ensure strict adherence to the specified maintenance and inspection requirements.