COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety 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 issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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 AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/ECUREUIL/102 Hydraulic System Cut Off 10/2004
Applicability: AS 350 helicopters, Versions B, B1, B2, B3, BA, BB and D, pre Modification 073263.
Requirement: Modify the electrical wiring, in accordance with paragraphs 2.A., 2.B. and 2.C. of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin No. 29.00.07. or later revision approved by the French DGAC.
Note: DGAC AD F-2004-089 refers.
Compliance: Before 31 December 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 September 2004.
Background: The actions required by this Directive are designed to eliminate the possibility of a load unbalance in the flight controls. This unbalance may occur after the loss of hydraulic assistance following a hydraulic failure.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 30 July 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 September 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) were enacted to ensure that civil aviation activities in Australia are conducted safely and with minimal risk to the public. One specific legislative instrument under this Act, the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, was introduced to address safety concerns related to hydraulic system failures that could lead to unbalanced flight controls. The AD/ECUREUIL/102 was issued on 30 July 2004 by Bernard Malcolm Hole, a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and became effective on 30 September 2004. This directive mandates specific modifications to the electrical wiring of certain Eurocopter AS 350 models to prevent potential load imbalances following hydraulic failures, ensuring compliance with safety standards set by the French DGAC.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39-105, mandates the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aircraft operations within Australia. This particular AD pertains to the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series helicopters, covering versions B, B1, B2, B3, BA, BB, and D, which must have modifications to their electrical wiring as per the specified requirements. The directive applies to all such helicopters that have not yet undergone a specific modification, numbered 073263, and must be implemented by 31 December 2004. This AD, which became effective on 30 September 2004, aims to rectify an unsafe condition that could lead to a load imbalance in flight controls following a hydraulic failure, as detailed in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 29.00.07 or later revisions approved by the French DGAC. This regulatory action underscores the Commonwealth's commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) are a comprehensive set of regulations that govern the safety of civil aviation in Australia. Within Part 39 of these regulations, specifically in Section 105, there is a schedule of airworthiness directives (ADs). One such AD, identified as AD/ECUREUIL/102, pertains to Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. This AD was issued on 30 July 2004 by Bernard Malcolm Hole, a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), in response to an identified unsafe condition related to the hydraulic system.
The main operative sections of this AD (AD/ECUREUIL/102) focus on the applicability, requirement, and compliance of the directive. The applicability section specifies that the AD applies to AS 350 helicopters of versions B, B1, B2, B3, BA, BB, and D, provided they have not undergone modification 073263. The requirement section mandates that the electrical wiring be modified in accordance with specific paragraphs of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin No. 29.00.07 or any later revision approved by the French DGAC. The compliance section stipulates that these modifications must be completed before 31 December 2004.
This AD imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties or entities it governs. Firstly, it requires the operators and owners of the specified Eurocopter AS 350 helicopters to ensure that the electrical wiring modifications are carried out as per the instructions provided. The directive references the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 29.00.07, which provides detailed guidance on the required changes. Compliance with the AD is mandatory, and failure to adhere to the specified timeline could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this AD can lead to various consequences, including potential civil and criminal liabilities. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text of the AD itself, the broader CASR 1998 framework provides for substantial penalties for breaches of airworthiness requirements. Civil penalties can include fines, while serious breaches might also result in criminal charges, potentially leading to imprisonment. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are intended to ensure strict adherence to the safety standards outlined by CASA.