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
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/DAUPHIN/51 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM
Applicability: SA 360 C, SA 365 C, C1, C2 ,C3, AS 365 N, N1, N2 and N3 helicopters, metal ferry fuel tanks, part number 330A 871310.00, .01, .02, .03 and .04.
Requirement: 1. For installed metal ferry fuel tanks - Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No
28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 both dated 6 June 2000 as applicable.
2. For metal ferry fuel tanks that are not installed - Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No 28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 both dated 6 June 2000 as applicable.
Note: DGAC AD 2000-302(A).
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Before the next refuelling of the ferry fuel tank after the effective date of this Directive.
For Requirement 2 - Before installation of the ferry fuel tank. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 26 July 2000.
Background: The French Direction Generale de L’Aviation Civile has advised that an electrostatic ground connector on several ferry fuel tanks was not electrically bonded to its support. During refuelling of a tank, the absence of this electrical bonding could generate an electrical arc between the refuelling nozzle of the tanker and the fuel tank causing the fuel tank to explode.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 July 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 July 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety and airworthiness of aircraft. In 2000, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters to address safety issues related to ferry fuel tanks. This AD was issued to mitigate the risk of fuel tank explosions during refuelling, which was identified due to the lack of proper electrical bonding on several ferry fuel tanks. The policy objective of this AD is to enhance safety by requiring the electrical bonding of ferry fuel tanks in accordance with specified Eurocopter service telexes, ensuring compliance before the next refuelling or installation of the fuel tanks.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to specific Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters, namely the SA 360 C, SA 365 C, C1, C2, C3, AS 365 N, N1, N2, and N3 models. It further pertains to metal ferry fuel tanks identified by the part numbers 330A 871310.00,.01,.02,.03, and.04, whether installed or not. The directive mandates that the specified helicopter models, equipped with these particular fuel tanks, must be electrically bonded as per the instructions outlined in Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No 28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 dated 6 June 2000. This requirement must be fulfilled by the next refuelling of the ferry fuel tank for already installed tanks or before installation for unattached tanks. The AD operates under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and becomes effective on 26 July 2000.
Key Provisions
This legislative instrument (F2006B08763), under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, issues an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Eurocopter SA 360 and SA 365 (Dauphin) series helicopters (section 1). This directive mandates specific actions to ensure airworthiness, specifically addressing the issue of metal ferry fuel tanks that are not properly electrically bonded, which could lead to dangerous conditions during refuelling (section 2). The directive applies to various models of these helicopters and specifies the required action to electrically bond the fuel tanks according to Eurocopter Service Telex SA 360 C/365 C No 28.07 and AS 365 N No 28.00.28 dated 6 June 2000 (section 3). The compliance requirement mandates that for tanks already installed, bonding must occur before the next refuelling, and for tanks not yet installed, bonding must be completed before installation (section 4). This AD became effective on 26 July 2000.
The obligations imposed by this AD require helicopter owners, operators, and maintenance personnel to ensure that all metal ferry fuel tanks are electrically bonded as specified in the directive. This includes checking the bonding status of installed tanks and ensuring that any new or replacement tanks are bonded before installation (section 5). The AD also requires adherence to the detailed bonding instructions provided in the referenced Eurocopter Service Telex documents, ensuring that the bonding is done correctly to prevent any risk of electrical arcs during refuelling (section 6).
Failure to comply with this AD can result in serious safety hazards, including the potential for fuel tank explosions during refuelling, which could endanger lives and property (section 7). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement action against non-compliance, which could include fines, sanctions, or other regulatory measures. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD but are governed by the broader regulatory framework under which CASA operates, which may include substantial fines and potential criminal charges for severe violations (section 8).