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/45 Transmission Deck Beams 10/95
DM
Applicability: Model SA365 helicopters versions N, N1, N2, F, Fs and K.
Requirement: Visually inspect the upper and lower surfaces of the transmission deck and the beams at X 3826.7 and X 4338.7 under the transmission deck. Inspect for cracking in accordance with Eurocopter Telex Service No 01.41.
Note: DGAC AD 95-067-038(B) refers.
Compliance: For models N, N1, F, Fs and K, inspect before 4000 hours time in service or before 50 hours time in service after 17 August 1995, whichever occurs later. For model N2, inspect before 2000 hours time in service or before 50 hours time in service after 4 August 1995, whichever occurs later.
Background: Cracks have been found in one of the two support beams under the transmission deck and on the transmission deck. Extensive cracking could result in loss of structural integrity of the transmission deck.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, provide specific directives for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft, including the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters. The legislation was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia and aims to ensure the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations by setting standards for aircraft maintenance and inspections. AD/DAUPHIN/45 pertains to the inspection of transmission deck beams on specific Dauphin model helicopters, addressing the problem of potential structural integrity issues due to cracking in these critical components.
This legislative instrument was developed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to safeguard against the risks associated with undetected cracks in the transmission deck beams, which could compromise the structural integrity of the helicopter. The policy objective is to mandate regular inspections to prevent catastrophic failures, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew, as well as the overall integrity of the aviation fleet.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to the SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) series helicopters, more precisely to models SA365 N, N1, N2, F, Fs, and K. This legislation mandates a visual inspection of the upper and lower surfaces of the transmission deck and the beams at specific locations to ensure there is no cracking, in accordance with detailed instructions provided by Eurocopter. The directive is triggered before the helicopter reaches 4000 hours of time in service or before 50 hours of time in service after a specific date, depending on the model, to mitigate the risk of structural failure due to extensive cracking. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, applying across Australia as a Commonwealth regulation. This directive is a critical safety measure to ensure the airworthiness of these helicopters, and compliance is mandatory for all operators of the specified models within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, one of which pertains to the Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) series helicopters, identified by the directive AD/DAUPHIN/45 (section 10/95DM). This directive mandates that certain models of the Dauphin helicopters must undergo a visual inspection of the upper and lower surfaces of the transmission deck and the beams located at positions X 3826.7 and X 4338.7 beneath the transmission deck. The inspection is to be conducted for signs of cracking, following the guidelines set forth in Eurocopter Telex Service No 01.41. This directive aligns with the French civil aviation authority's directive DGAC AD 95-067-038(B).
Operators and owners of the affected Dauphin helicopter models (N, N1, N2, F, Fs, and K) must ensure that the required inspections are performed. For models N, N1, F, Fs, and K, the inspection must be completed before the helicopter reaches 4000 hours of time in service or before 50 hours of time in service after 17 August 1995, whichever comes later. For the model N2, the inspection must be done before the helicopter accumulates 2000 hours of time in service or before 50 hours of time in service after 4 August 1995, whichever is later. These timelines ensure that the transmission deck's structural integrity is maintained by identifying and addressing any potential cracking at the appropriate intervals.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive can result in serious safety implications, as extensive cracking in the transmission deck could compromise the structural integrity of the helicopter. While the specific legal consequences of non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that breaches of airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Potential consequences could include fines, penalties, or the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and any necessary repairs are completed. The exact penalties would be determined based on the severity of the breach and any applicable laws or regulations.