COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EC 120/6 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 EC 120 Series Helicopters
AD/EC 120/6
Amdt 1
Yaw Control 2/2002
TX
Applicability: Model EC 120 B helicopters, with serial numbers up to and including serial number 1278.
Requirement: Install object protectors on the cabin floor in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005.
Note: DGAC AD 2001-386-007(A) refers.
Compliance: Within 7 days of receipt of the components or before 28 February 2002, whichever occurs first.
This amendment becomes effective on 7 January 2002.
Background: The DGAC received a report of yaw control jamming that was caused by an object that had slid between the canopy and the cabin floor.
Amendment 1 amends the compliance date from 31 December 2001 to 28 February 2002 due to the manufacturer being unable to supply components within specified compliance time.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 1 November 2001.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 3 January 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 7 January 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), specifically PART 39 - 105, addresses the critical area of airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, this legislation was introduced to fill the gap in maintaining and ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products. The policy objective behind this legislation is to provide clear and enforceable directives that address any unsafe conditions that may compromise flight safety. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) acts as the delegate of the Commonwealth Government in issuing these directives, ensuring that all relevant parties adhere to the safety standards prescribed within the regulations. This particular Airworthiness Directive targets Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters, mandating specific actions to rectify identified issues to prevent potential safety hazards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), apply to all aircraft and aeronautical products operating within Australia. This particular directive, AD/EC 120/6, targets the Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters, specifically those with serial numbers up to and including 1278. The directive mandates that object protectors be installed on the cabin floor to prevent yaw control jamming, as detailed in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005. The requirement to comply with these directives must be met within a specified timeframe, initially set for 7 days from receipt of components or by 31 December 2001, later amended to 28 February 2002 due to component supply delays. This directive applies nationally within Australia and is enforced by CASA, with the authority to issue such mandates stemming from the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.
Key Provisions
The main sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) revolve around ensuring the safety of Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters, specifically model EC 120 B helicopters with serial numbers up to and including 1278. According to section 2, the directive requires the installation of object protectors on the cabin floor to prevent yaw control jamming, in compliance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005. The requirement section (section 3) stipulates that these object protectors must be installed within 7 days of receiving the necessary components or before 28 February 2002, whichever comes first. The compliance section (section 4) sets out the timeline for the directive, with an effective date of 7 January 2002.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties governed by it. Operators of Eurocopter EC 120 B helicopters must ensure that the required object protectors are installed on the cabin floor in accordance with the instructions provided. This involves sourcing the appropriate components and completing the installation within the stipulated timeframe. Failure to adhere to the requirements of the AD could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to serious safety implications.
Should an entity or individual fail to comply with the AD, there may be legal consequences. While the AD itself does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to airworthiness directives can result in serious repercussions under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, such as fines or other administrative penalties. Furthermore, if non-compliance results in an unsafe condition that leads to an accident or incident, the responsible party could face criminal charges and penalties under Australian law. The severity of these penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the degree of negligence involved.