AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DAUPHIN/55 and issues the following 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.
Eurocopter SA-360 & SA-365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters
AD/DAUPHIN/55
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Pitch Change Control Rods 11/2002
DM
Applicability: Model AS 365 N3 helicopters equipped with tail rotor pitch change control rods, part number 365A33-6161-21, installed on a “quiet” fenestron (post MOD 0764B39 or in compliance with Eurocopter AS 365 Service Bulletin No. 64.00.21).
Requirement: 1. The service life of affected tail rotor pitch change control rods (control rods) is limited to 300 total flight hours, with the following temporary actions to be taken for in-service control rods.
- Control rods with 700 total flight hours or more must be discarded before further flight.
b. Control rods with 500 total flight hours or more must be discarded within the next 20 flight hours.
c. Control rods with 270 total flight hours or more must be discarded within the next 30 flight hours.
2. Retire from service, affected pitch change rods part number 365A33-6161-21 in accordance with paragraph 2.B. of Eurocopter AS365 N Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.55.
Note: DGAC AD 2002-472-057(A) refers.
Compliance: For Requirements 1.a., 1.b., and 1.c.: Effective from 3 October 2001.
For Requirement 2: Effective from 31 October 2002.
The compliance times remain unchanged for Requirements 1.a., 1.b., and 1.c; (previously Requirements 1, 2, and 3 at original AD issue).
This Amendment becomes effective on 25 September 2002.
Background: This Directive is issued in response to a DGAC AD which was prompted by a tail rotor pitch change control rod failure that occurred on a prototype helicopter.
Eurocopter SA-360 & SA-365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters
AD/DAUPHIN/55 Amdt 1 (continued)
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which introduces a retirement time for affected tail rotor pitch change rods.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 October 2001.
David Charles Punshon
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 19 September 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 September 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) in response to identified safety concerns regarding the tail rotor pitch change control rods in the Eurocopter SA-360 and SA-365 (Dauphin) Series Helicopters. The AD was enacted in 2002 to address a tail rotor pitch change control rod failure that occurred on a prototype helicopter. This directive, AD/DAUPHIN/55 Amendment 1, revises and supersedes the previous AD/DAUPHIN/55 issued on 3 October 2001, incorporating new requirements necessitated by the failure and subsequent recommendations from the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC). The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the safe operation of these helicopters by imposing strict limitations on the service life of the affected control rods and mandating their timely replacement or retirement. Compliance with the AD is mandatory and must be adhered to within the specified timelines to mitigate the risk of further incidents.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive AD/DAUPHIN/55 Amdt 1, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies specifically to Eurocopter SA-360 and SA-365 (Dauphin) Series helicopters that are equipped with tail rotor pitch change control rods, part number 365A33-6161-21, and installed on a "quiet" fenestron. This applies to helicopters that are post MOD 0764B39 or in compliance with Eurocopter AS 365 Service Bulletin No. 64.00.21. The directive mandates specific actions to address an unsafe condition identified with the tail rotor pitch change control rods, including limiting the service life of these components to 300 total flight hours and setting forth requirements for the disposal or retirement of control rods based on their total flight hours. The directive also includes compliance timelines, with certain requirements effective from 3 October 2001 and others from 31 October 2002. The directive was issued in response to a tail rotor pitch change control rod failure on a prototype helicopter and subsequent regulatory actions by the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC).
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DAUPHIN/55 Amdt 1, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), applies to Eurocopter SA-360 and SA-365 (Dauphin) series helicopters equipped with specific tail rotor pitch change control rods. The directive mandates certain actions to address safety concerns identified in these control rods. Specifically, Section 1 of the AD states that control rods with 700 or more total flight hours must be discarded before further flight (1.a), those with 500 or more flight hours must be discarded within the next 20 flight hours (1.b), and those with 270 or more flight hours must be discarded within the next 30 flight hours (1.c). Additionally, Section 2 requires the retirement of affected pitch change rods part number 365A33-6161-21 in accordance with specific instructions provided in Eurocopter AS365 N Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.55.
This AD imposes specific obligations on operators of the affected helicopters. They must ensure that the identified tail rotor pitch change control rods are inspected and managed according to the stipulated flight hour limits and retirement instructions. Operators need to adhere to the timelines provided in the AD for discarding or retiring the control rods to maintain compliance with safety standards. Furthermore, they are required to follow the instructions detailed in Eurocopter’s Alert Service Bulletin to ensure proper handling and disposal of the affected components.
Failure to comply with the AD can result in serious safety risks and potential regulatory consequences. Although the AD does not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with CASA directives generally can lead to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. These can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other administrative actions. Ensuring adherence to the AD is critical for maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft involved.