COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/ECUREUIL/47
Amdt 1
Electric Hoist Installation 3/92
Applicability: All AS 350 helicopters as specified in the requirement document.
Requirement: 1. Modify the hoist arm in accordance with paragraph 1 C 2 of Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25-42 Revision 1.
2. Carry out an Electrical Bonding Check in accordance with paragraph 1 C 3 of Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25-42 Revision 1.
Note 1: Do NOT re-install the pyrotechnic cable cutting squib in accordance with Aerospatiale SB 25-42. AD/SUPP/12 refers.
Note 2: DGAC AD 91-165-058(B) also refers. Note 3: AD/SUPP/13 also refers.
Compliance: Requirement 1. Within 50 hours time in service after 06 March 1992, but no later than 6 June 1992.
Requirement 2. Within 50 hours time in service after 06 March 1992, but no later than 6 June 1992; and on each occasion the hoist or the hoist arm is removed or disassembled.
Background: An number of inadvertent firings of the pyrotechnic cable cutting device on a variety of helicopter electric hoists resulted in the removal of the pyrotechnic device from all hoists when used for personnel winching pending further investigation (AD/SUPP/12 refers). The pyrotechnic cable cut device is however still required to be fitted to hoists when hoisting cargo.
AD/SUPP/13 requires modification and testing of the bonding between the component parts of the Air Equipment Hoist P/No 76370 (all variants). Compliance with this AD (AD/ECUERUIL/47) will improve the bonding between the hoist and the aircraft, and reduce the likelihood of un-commanded cable cuts when the pyrotechnic device is fitted for cargo winching. Note however that fitment of the pyrotechnic device for personnel winching is still prohibited by AD/SUPP/12 pending further investigation.
Amendment 1 to this AD is issued to revise the applicability statement to include hoist P/No 76370-030.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address safety directives concerning airworthiness, including the safety of Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation aims to ensure the safety of civil aviation by setting stringent airworthiness standards and directives. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with the inadvertent firing of pyrotechnic cable cutting devices, which have previously led to safety incidents. This particular Airworthiness Directive mandates modifications to the hoist arm and electrical bonding checks for the Eurocopter AS 350 series, reflecting a commitment to enhancing safety protocols and preventing uncommanded cable cuts, especially when dealing with cargo winching operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as outlined in PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandate specific safety requirements for Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, particularly regarding the electric hoist installation. This legislation applies to all AS 350 helicopters as specified in the directive document. It mandates two key modifications: the alteration of the hoist arm according to Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25-42 Revision 1 and an Electrical Bonding Check as outlined in the same bulletin. Importantly, compliance with this directive must occur within 50 hours of the helicopter being in service after 6 March 1992, but no later than 6 June 1992, and on each occasion the hoist or the hoist arm is removed or disassembled. This directive also references other relevant documents such as AD/SUPP/12, DGAC AD 91-165-058(B), and AD/SUPP/13, which collectively address the safety concerns surrounding the inadvertent firing of pyrotechnic cable cutting devices and the bonding of the hoist components. The directive is enforceable across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying uniformly to all entities operating within the specified aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, such as the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) series helicopters. This section mandates specific modifications and checks for the electric hoist installations to enhance safety. According to AD/ECUREUIL/47 Amendment 1, two primary requirements must be met: (1) the hoist arm must be modified in line with paragraph 1 C 2 of Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25-42 Revision 1, and (2) an Electrical Bonding Check must be conducted as per paragraph 1 C 3 of the same bulletin. Importantly, the pyrotechnic cable cutting squib should not be re-installed, as per AD/SUPP/12. Other relevant documents, DGAC AD 91-165-058(B) and AD/SUPP/13, also provide additional references and requirements.
These obligations are critical for the continued safe operation of AS 350 helicopters. The directive requires that the specified modifications and checks be completed within a stringent timeframe: within 50 hours of time in service after 06 March 1992, but no later than 6 June 1992. Furthermore, the Electrical Bonding Check must be performed not only initially but also each time the hoist or hoist arm is removed or disassembled. This ensures ongoing compliance and safety, particularly as these helicopters are used for both personnel and cargo winching operations.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious safety issues, including the risk of uncommanded pyrotechnic cable cuts. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) enforces these regulations rigorously to maintain the highest safety standards in aviation. Any breach of these requirements can result in severe penalties. While the exact penalties are not specified in the excerpt, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions, including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other administrative sanctions as deemed necessary by CASA to ensure compliance and public safety.