AD/DAUPHIN/28 - Front Passenger Door

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include a legislative instrument designed to address safety concerns specific to the operation of Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters within Australia. This particular regulation, F2006B08739, was enacted to ensure the airworthiness of specified models of Dauphin helicopters registered in Australia, particularly those equipped with a partition between the cockpit and the VIP lounge. The regulation was introduced in response to a problem identified by the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) in France, which mandated a specific action to prevent the jettisoning of the front passenger door due to loading in the jettison linkage, an issue caused by interference between the door covering and the partition. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Australian Government to align Australian aviation safety standards with international directives and to ensure the safety of passengers and crew on these helicopters. The policy objective of this regulation is to maintain and enhance the safety standards of civil aviation in Australia by implementing internationally recognised safety directives. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enforcing body responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations. CASA has specified that the compliance must be in accordance with the technical requirements of DGAC AD 91-022-029 (B) and has set a revised effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian registered helicopters, extending the original directive's effective date by 10 weeks. This ensures that all affected helicopters meet the necessary safety standards before resuming operations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended and particularly under Part 39 - 105, apply to specific instances of aircraft airworthiness, notably Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters. The legislation directly targets SA 365N and N1 helicopters with specific serial numbers, namely 6220, 6229, 6306, 6310, 6315, 6324, 6340, and 6346, that are equipped with a partition between the cockpit and the VIP lounge. This directive, AD/DAUPHIN/28, mandates compliance with the technical requirements of DGAC AD 91-022-029 (B) to mitigate the risk of the front passenger door being jettisoned due to loading in the jettison linkage, which may be caused by interference between the door covering and the partition. The regulations, while based on international directives, incorporate a revised effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian registered helicopters, extending the effective date required by the DGAC by 10 weeks. This legislation is applicable nationally, impacting all operators and owners of the specified helicopters registered in Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, provide detailed instructions for ensuring the airworthiness of certain aircraft, including Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) series helicopters. In the case of the front passenger door directive (AD/DAUPHIN/28), Section 4/91 applies to specific model SA 365N and N1 helicopters, namely those with serial numbers 6220, 6229, 6306, 6310, 6315, 6324, 6340, and 6346. These helicopters must be equipped with a partition between the cockpit and the VIP lounge. The directive mandates that actions be taken in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in DGAC AD 91-022-029 (B), which refers to Aerospatiale SA 365 SB 52-11. Compliance with this directive is to be achieved as specified in the Requirement Document, with a notable amendment to the effectivity date, now set at 18 April 1991 for Australian-registered helicopters. The obligations imposed by this directive on the operators of the specified Dauphin helicopters are clear and precise. Operators must ensure that the front passenger door is modified or maintained in a manner that prevents the door from being inadvertently jettisoned due to loading in the jettison linkage. This is particularly important given the risk of interference between the door covering and the partition, which could lead to dangerous situations during flight. The modifications or maintenance must be performed in strict adherence to the technical requirements provided by DGAC AD 91-022-029 (B), ensuring that the safety of the aircraft and its occupants is not compromised. Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in AD/DAUPHIN/28 can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose penalties for non-compliance, which can include both civil and criminal penalties. The exact nature and severity of these penalties are not detailed within the text of the directive but generally, such breaches could result in significant fines, enforcement actions, or even the grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The potential for severe repercussions underscores the importance of adhering to these airworthiness directives to maintain the safety and reliability of the aircraft in operation.