COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters
AD/DAUPHIN/29 Main Rotor Mast 12/91 DM
Applicability: All model 365N and F series helicopters fitted with Main Rotor Mast P/N 365A31- 1060-23, -25, 365A31-1179-20, -21 or 365A31-1179-03.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Aerospatiale Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.04 Revision 2. Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document.
Background: The manufacturer requires the mast to be inspected for corrosion pits that could initiate fatigue cracks.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the maintenance and safety of civil aircraft, including the issue of airworthiness directives. The legislation was enacted by the Australian Parliament to ensure the safety and integrity of aircraft operating within Australian airspace. One such airworthiness directive is AD/DAUPHIN/29 concerning the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters, focusing on the main rotor mast. The directive was introduced to address the problem of corrosion pits in the main rotor mast that could potentially lead to fatigue cracks, thus compromising the safety of these aircraft. The policy objective is to mandate regular inspections and compliance with the manufacturer's mandatory service bulletin to maintain the structural integrity of the affected helicopters.
The directive applies to all model 365N and F series helicopters equipped with specific main rotor mast part numbers, requiring adherence to Aerospatiale Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.04 Revision 2. Compliance is to be verified as specified in the requirement document, ensuring that the mandated inspections are performed to mitigate any safety risks associated with the identified corrosion issues.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all model 365N and F series helicopters equipped with specific Main Rotor Mast parts numbers as outlined in the Airworthiness Directive. This legislation mandates that such aircraft must comply with the requirements set forth by the Aerospatiale Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.04 Revision 2. The regulation is a Commonwealth instrument, thus it has national jurisdiction and applies to all operators within Australia. The primary focus of this directive is to ensure the airworthiness of the specified helicopter models by addressing potential safety issues associated with the main rotor mast. Compliance with this directive is essential for maintaining the safety standards required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The regulation does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, indicating that all applicable aircraft must adhere to the specified requirements. The application of this directive extends through subordinate instruments which may provide further details on the inspection and compliance procedures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, detailing the AD/DAUPHIN/29 concerning the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters (sections 1-3). This directive applies to all model 365N and F series helicopters equipped with a Main Rotor Mast with specific part numbers (section 4). The directive mandates that these helicopters must undergo an inspection in accordance with Aerospatiale Mandatory Service Bulletin 05.04 Revision 2 to ensure the mast is free from corrosion pits that could potentially lead to fatigue cracks (section 5).
Operators of the affected helicopters are required to comply with the directive by following the instructions in the Requirement Document, which outlines the inspection and any necessary remedial actions (section 6). The directive emphasises the importance of regular and thorough inspections to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft, particularly focusing on the integrity of the Main Rotor Mast (section 7).
Failure to comply with this directive can have significant consequences. The Regulations provide for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives (section 8). The specific penalties can include fines and imprisonment, with the severity of the penalty depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance (section 9). The maximum penalties for non-compliance are set out in the Regulations, and these can be substantial, reflecting the serious implications that non-compliance with airworthiness directives can have for aviation safety (section 10). The enforcement of these penalties serves to ensure that all operators adhere strictly to the mandated safety standards to prevent potential risks associated with the specified components of the helicopters (section 11).