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/52
Amdt 1
In Door Sliding Windows 3/94
Applicability: Models B, BA, B1, B2, and D, equipped with the sliding windows listed in the requirement document.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Eurocopter AS 350 SB 05.25R1.
Note: DGAC AD 93-090-067(B) R1 refers.
Compliance: 1. Inspect within 25 hours time in service after 3 March 1994, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service until modified.
2. Modify within 100 hours time in service after 3 March 1994, and thereafter inspect at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until replaced by the post mod. windows listed in paragraph 1.C.3 of the requirement document.
Note: Both the requirement document and the DGAC AD call the modification of the undamaged windows a Repair.
The effective date of the initial issue of this Directive was 7 July 1993.
Background: This Directive is raised to preclude the loss of a window during flight. Amendment 1 introduces a modification to existing windows in lieu of automatic window replacement.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules and standards governing civil aviation safety in the country. One specific legislative instrument, F2006B09358, addresses the safety of Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters by issuing Airworthiness Directives to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. This legislative instrument, specifically PART 39 - 105, was introduced to address the problem of potential window loss during flight, a critical safety concern. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards by ensuring that the specified helicopter models, equipped with particular sliding windows, are modified or inspected at regular intervals to prevent any risk of window detachment in flight.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, through this directive, mandates specific actions such as inspecting and modifying the sliding windows on Eurocopter AS 350 models B, BA, B1, B2, and D within specified time intervals to mitigate the risk of window loss. The directive was effective from 3 March 1994, ensuring that these safety measures are applied to both existing and newly manufactured helicopters. The requirement for regular inspections and modifications aims to uphold the safety and operational integrity of these aircraft, thereby protecting passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, including models B, BA, B1, B2, and D that are equipped with the sliding windows outlined in the requirement document. The legislation mandates actions to ensure airworthiness and safety, particularly concerning door sliding windows, to prevent any loss of these windows during flight. Compliance with this regulation requires inspections within specific intervals of time in service and necessary modifications as per the Eurocopter AS 350 SB 05.25R1. This requirement is enforced under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the directive, including Amendment 1, was initially issued on 7 July 1993, with the aim to replace automatic window replacement with a modification of existing windows. This regulation applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, with CASA overseeing its implementation and enforcement across all relevant aviation sectors.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of aircraft, including the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. The particular AD/ECUREUIL/52 Amendment 1 pertains to the door sliding windows of models B, BA, B1, B2, and D, which were produced with certain sliding windows that need modification to prevent potential in-flight loss (Section 105). The directive requires adherence to Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin 05.25R1, with reference to DGAC AD 93-090-067(B) R1.
The key obligations outlined in the directive require the inspection and modification of the sliding windows. Owners and operators of the specified models must inspect the windows within 25 hours of time in service after 3 March 1994, and continue inspections at intervals not exceeding 25 hours until modifications are made (Section 105(1)). Following the inspection, the windows must be modified within 100 hours of time in service after 3 March 1994. After the modification, inspections are required at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service until the windows are replaced with the post-modification windows specified in paragraph 1.C.3 of the requirement document (Section 105(2)).
Failure to comply with the AD/ECUREUIL/52 Amendment 1 may lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with ADs. Operators and owners who do not adhere to the inspection and modification requirements could face enforcement actions, including fines, and in severe cases, the grounding of the aircraft. The maximum penalties for breaches of these regulations can include substantial fines for corporations and imprisonment for individuals, depending on the severity of the non-compliance and the impact on aviation safety.