AD/ECUREUIL/22 Amdt 6 - Tail Rotor Blade Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establishes a schedule of airworthiness directives for ensuring the safety and reliability of civil aircraft in Australia. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, was introduced to address safety concerns in civil aviation, particularly those relating to the maintenance and operational standards of aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues these directives to mandate specific actions to be taken by aircraft operators, ensuring that any identified safety issues are promptly and effectively addressed. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain the highest safety standards in the operation of civil aircraft, thereby protecting the public and reducing the risk of accidents. One such directive pertains to the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, specifically addressing issues with the tail rotor blade assembly. This directive, AD/ECUREUIL/22 Amendment 6, applies to all models fitted with certain tail rotor blades and mandates actions in accordance with Eurocopter's service bulletin No. 05-11 Revision 5. The directive arose from reports of cracking at the blade root of the tail rotor spar, leading to severe unbalance. Compliance with this directive requires that the specified actions be documented on the Maintenance Release, with certain inspections potentially being certified by the pilot in command. This directive highlights CASA's commitment to ensuring that all necessary safety measures are implemented and maintained to prevent potential hazards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, mandate the applicability of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives concerning the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. This directive applies to all models equipped with specific tailrotor blade part numbers, including 350A08-1011, 350A12-0020, 350A12-0030, 355A12-0031, and 355A12-0040. The directive mandates actions in accordance with Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin No. 05-11 Revision 5, and references DGAC AD 84-064-037(B)R3. Compliance with this directive requires adherence to the specified actions outlined in the requirement document and mandates that the directive be documented on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. Additionally, under certain conditions, the pilot in command can perform a specific part of the inspection and must certify this on the Maintenance Release. It is also stipulated that a copy of this directive and the requirement document must be carried on board the aircraft at all times. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this legislation is national, applying to all civil aviation activities within Australia, regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One such directive, AD/ECUREUIL/22 Amendment 6, pertains to Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, focusing on the tail rotor blade assembly. This directive applies to all models fitted with certain specified tail rotor blade part numbers (sections 1 and 2). The primary requirement is for actions to be taken in accordance with Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin No. 05-11 Revision 5, which addresses reported issues of cracking and severe unbalance at the blade root on the tail rotor spar (section 3). Operators and maintainers of Eurocopter AS 350 helicopters must adhere to the directive by ensuring that the required actions are implemented as specified in the referenced requirement document. Specifically, this entails conducting the necessary inspection and maintenance as per the Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 05-11 Revision 5. The directive mandates that these actions be recorded on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required (section 4). Additionally, the pilot in command is permitted to perform certain parts of the inspection, such as those outlined in Paragraph C1 of the requirement document, and must certify this on the Daily Inspection certification on the Maintenance Release (section 5). It is also required that a copy of this directive and the requirement document be carried in the aircraft at all times. Failure to comply with AD/ECUREUIL/22 Amendment 6 may result in severe consequences. The regulations impose civil and potentially criminal penalties for non-compliance, as specified in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Such penalties may include fines and potential imprisonment, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance on aviation safety. The exact penalties are not detailed within the directive itself but are governed by broader civil aviation laws, which can impose significant sanctions for breaches affecting aircraft safety and airworthiness.