AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EC 120/7 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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 120/7
Amdt 1
Horizontal Situation Indicator 5/2004
Applicability: EC 120 Versions B helicopters equipped with Bendix/King KI 525A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI).
Requirement: 1. Check the part number (P/N) of the KI 525A HSI installed on the helicopter.
Initially, no further action is necessary if the P/N is not 066-3046-07.
2. If the P/N is 066-3046-07, modify the HSI installation in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Telex 34A006 paragraph 2.A.1, for helicopters with the HSI connected to a single navigation system, or paragraph 2.A.2, for helicopters with the HSI connected to at least two navigation systems.
Note 1: Modification in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 34A006 is considered acceptable for compliance with Requirement 2.
3. Before installing a KI 525A HSI P/N 066-3046-07 in place of a KI 525A HSI with P/Ns 066-3046-00, -01, -04 or -05 ensure that the HSI installation is modified in accordance with Requirement 2.
Note 2: DGAC AD F-2002-282-009 R1 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Remains unchanged as ‘Either within 100 hours time in service after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive or before 10 August 2003, whichever occurs first’.
For Requirement 2 - Before further flight after the Requirement 1 check. For Requirement 3 - As of the effective date of this Amendment.
This Amendment becomes effective on 13 May 2004.
Background: Eurocopter has advised the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile that KI 525A HSIs P/N 066-3046-07 may have been incorrectly installed on some helicopters. The incorrect installation may result in navigation errors.
The original issue of this Directive introduced measures to ensure that the affected HSIs were correctly installed.
Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters
AD/EC 120/7 Amdt 1 (continued)
This Amendment contains some minor editorial amendments, together with allowing credit for modifications carried out in accordance with the ASB and introduces measures to ensure that the helicopter is modified prior to the installation of a
KI 525A HSI P/N 066-3046-07.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 5 June 2002.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EC 120/7 in 2002 to address a safety issue with the installation of specific Horizontal Situation Indicators (HSI) in Eurocopter EC 120 Series Helicopters. The directive was enacted to rectify a potential risk of navigation errors caused by the incorrect installation of the KI 525A HSI with part number 066-3046-07. This AD was issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, reflecting the policy objective of maintaining the highest safety standards in civil aviation by mandating specific actions to correct the identified unsafe condition. The AD was subsequently amended in 2004 to incorporate minor editorial changes and to allow credit for modifications performed in accordance with the manufacturer's alert service bulletin. This amendment ensures that the helicopter is modified prior to the installation of the specified HSI, thus further enhancing flight safety.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EC 120/7 Amdt 1 applies specifically to EC 120 Version B helicopters equipped with a Bendix/King KI 525A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) bearing part number 066-3046-07. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. It mandates certain actions to address an unsafe condition related to the installation of the specified HSI. The AD aims to ensure that the identified HSIs are either correctly installed or modified to prevent potential navigation errors, thus maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The directive remains effective within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced through the notification process, including publication in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. The compliance requirements necessitate specific actions within certain timeframes, ensuring that the safety measures are implemented before further flights or within a defined period after the directive's original issue.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/EC 120/7 Amdt 1 applies to Eurocopter EC 120 Version B helicopters equipped with a Bendix/King KI 525A Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) (Applicability). The requirements section outlines the specific actions needed to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft. Firstly, the part number of the installed KI 525A HSI must be checked (Requirement 1). If the part number is not 066-3046-07, no further action is necessary. However, if the part number is 066-3046-07, the HSI installation must be modified according to Eurocopter Alert Telex 34A006 (Requirement 2). Modifications should follow paragraph 2.A.1 for helicopters connected to a single navigation system, or paragraph 2.A.2 for helicopters connected to at least two navigation systems. Additionally, before installing a KI 525A HSI P/N 066-3046-07 in place of an HSI with part numbers 066-3046-00, -01, -04, or -05, the HSI installation must be modified in accordance with Requirement 2 (Requirement 3).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of the affected helicopters. These obligations include checking the part number of the installed KI 525A HSI and, if necessary, modifying the HSI installation according to the specified instructions. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and must be achieved within the specified timeframes. For Requirement 1, the check must be completed within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after the effective date of the original issue of this Directive, or before 10 August 2003, whichever occurs first. Requirement 2 must be completed before further flight after the Requirement 1 check, and Requirement 3 must be completed as of the effective date of this Amendment.
Breach of the obligations set out in the AD may result in significant consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the text of the AD itself, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally enforced under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. Violations can lead to penalties including fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and potential criminal charges for operators who fail to adhere to these safety requirements. The severity of the penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, and the discretion of the enforcing authority.