COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EC 120/4 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.
AD/EC 120/4
Amdt 1
Cabin Sliding Door 8/2001 DM
Applicability: Model EC 120B helicopters having a serial number below 1170, with a rail not equipped with an end-of –travel anti-unhinging stop, rail part number C533C8102201, C533C8102202, C533C8103201, or C533C8103202; and without
Eurocopter EC 120 Alert Service Bulletin 52A004 R1 incorporated.
Requirement: 1. Adjust the cabin sliding door in accordance with the instructions specified in paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter EC 120 Alert Service Bulletin 05A005 R1.
Flight with the cabin sliding door in the open position is prohibited if the above adjustment does not ensure correct locking of the cabin sliding door in the open position.
In this case, remove the cabin door prior to carrying out a flight with the door open, and refer to the Aircraft Flight Manual for airspeed limitations.
2. Modify the rear stop of the middle rail and add a stop to the front rail in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter EC 120 Alert Service Bulletin 52A004 R1.
Note 1: Compliance with Requirement 2 constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this Directive.
Note 2: DGAC AD 2000-285-005(A) R2 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before further flight with the cabin sliding door in the open position, but not later than 31 August 2000; thereafter at each installation of the cabin sliding door.
2. Before 31 July 2001, unless already accomplished.
The compliance times/requirement of Compliance 1 remain unchanged by this issue. This Amendment becomes effective on 20 June 2001.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: This Directive was initially issued following the in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which introduces modification action and changes effectivity to clarify rail part numbers.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 5 July 2000.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 June 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 20 June 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Airworthiness Directives) Amendment (No. 2) 2001, address the safety concerns associated with the cabin sliding door of Eurocopter EC 120 series helicopters. This legislation was enacted to ensure the safety of air travel by mandating specific modifications and actions in response to identified safety risks. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), as the delegate of the Commonwealth of Australia, introduced these regulations to correct unsafe conditions and ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. The primary policy objective is to enhance the safety of aircraft operations by addressing specific mechanical issues that could potentially lead to catastrophic failures during flight.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes directives concerning the airworthiness of certain aircraft. This particular Airworthiness Directive applies to Eurocopter EC 120 Series helicopters with specific serial numbers and rail configurations, namely those below serial number 1170 equipped with certain rail parts and lacking the incorporation of Eurocopter EC 120 Alert Service Bulletin 52A004 R1. The directive mandates actions to rectify unsafe conditions related to the cabin sliding door to ensure compliance with safety standards, including adjustments and modifications as specified in related service bulletins. The directive is applicable nationally and is enforced under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority delegate, David Alan Villiers. This Airworthiness Directive supersedes a previous directive and incorporates amendments to reflect updated requirements and clarifications regarding the affected rail part numbers. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and must be achieved within specified timeframes, with certain actions required before further flight and others before a particular date. The directive was issued and amended to address safety concerns following incidents such as the in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door and subsequent regulatory actions by other aviation authorities.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under PART 39 - 105 specifically addresses Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for aircraft safety. In this instance, AD/EC 120/4, which pertains to Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters, has been revoked and replaced by a new directive (AD/EC 120/4 Amendment 1) issued on 14 June 2001. This new directive focuses on the cabin sliding door of the EC 120B helicopter, specifically for models with a serial number below 1170 and certain rail configurations that lack an end-of-travel anti-unhinging stop. The directive requires operators to adjust the cabin sliding door in accordance with the instructions in Eurocopter EC 120 Alert Service Bulletin 05A005 R1 and modify the rear stop of the middle rail and add a stop to the front rail as outlined in Eurocopter EC 120 Alert Service Bulletin 52A004 R1.
Operators of affected helicopters must ensure that the cabin sliding door is adjusted and modified as specified to prevent unsafe conditions. This involves adhering to the detailed instructions provided in the referenced service bulletins. The directive also prohibits flight with the cabin sliding door in the open position if the adjustments do not ensure proper locking. If the adjustments do not achieve correct locking, the cabin door must be removed before flight, and operators should consult the Aircraft Flight Manual for airspeed limitations. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory, with specific timelines: adjustments must be completed before further flight with the door open, but not later than 31 August 2000, and the modifications must be completed by 31 July 2001.
Failure to comply with the AD requirements may result in serious safety implications and potential regulatory action. The AD is legally enforceable, and non-compliance could lead to penalties. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the directive itself, under CAR 1998, non-compliance with ADs can result in enforcement actions, including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. These consequences underscore the importance of adhering to the specified safety measures to maintain airworthiness and ensure the safety of all persons onboard and on the ground.