Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, are the principal legislation governing aviation safety in Australia. They were introduced to ensure that civil aviation activities are conducted safely and without undue risk to people or property on the ground. This legislative instrument, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), serves to address a specific safety concern identified in certain Eurocopter EC 135 Series Helicopters. The problem at hand involves random anomaly in the SMD45H display systems, which can cause symbology inversion, potentially leading to unsafe flight conditions. The policy objective of this Airworthiness Directive is to mitigate such risks by mandating corrective actions including amendments to the Flight Manual, placarding of affected displays, and, if necessary, their exchange. This directive aims to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of the specified aircraft models.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive applies specifically to Eurocopter EC 135 Series Helicopters with Serial Numbers 0005 through 0216, which are equipped with Central Panel Display Systems (CPDS) and Smart Multifunction Displays SMD45H installed as Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and/or Navigation Displays (ND). The directive is issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and becomes effective on 1 November 2001. The requirements outlined in the directive are designed to address an issue where some SMD45H displays exhibit a random anomaly causing a symbology inversion. The directive mandates the amendment of the Flight Manual to include specific Flight Manual Supplement Amendments, placarding of the affected displays as per the detailed instructions in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EC135-31A-002 Revision 2, and the exchange of the SMD45H PFDs and NDs by a specified date. These actions are necessary to mitigate the identified unsafe condition and ensure compliance with civil aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under PART 39 - 105, specifically address the Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive AD/EC 135/6 pertains to Eurocopter EC 135 Series Helicopters, with a focus on the SMD45H Display Systems. According to section 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, the CASA delegate issues this AD to ensure the airworthiness of the specified aircraft. The directive applies to EC 135 T1, P1, and P2 helicopters with certain serial numbers and display systems installed, as detailed in the applicability section. The directive sets out specific requirements to be followed to address the identified unsafe condition. The requirements of AD/EC 135/6 include amending the Flight Manual by incorporating the appropriate Flight Manual Supplement Amendments, as outlined in the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EC135-31A-002 Revision 2. This involves inserting the relevant appendices into the Flight Manual. Additionally, the directive mandates placarding the SMD45H Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and Navigation Displays (ND) as per the instructions in ASB EC135-31A-002 Revision 2. Furthermore, the directive requires the exchange of the SMD45H PFDs and NDs, again following the instructions in ASB EC135-31A-002 Revision 2. These actions must be completed before specified dates, as outlined in the compliance section of the directive. The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and specific. Operators of the affected EC 135 helicopters must ensure that the Flight Manual is updated with the necessary supplements before the next flight after the directive's effective date. Placarding of the displays must also be completed before the next flight following the directive's effective date. Additionally, the exchange of the SMD45H displays must be carried out before 31 March 2002. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to serious safety implications. The AD/EC 135/6 also specifies potential consequences for non-compliance. While the directive itself does not detail specific penalties, non-compliance with ADs can result in enforcement actions under CAR 1998. This may include administrative penalties or legal action for failure to comply with the directive. The seriousness of non-compliance is underscored by the potential for grounding the aircraft, which can have significant operational and safety ramifications for the operator.