COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation 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 revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/66 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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/66
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Hub Pitch Change Bearings 11/2002
Applicability: All AS 350 helicopters, versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D fitted with tail rotor pitch change plate SNR bearing, P/No 6010F234M16 (704A33-651-190).
Requirement: Replace tail rotor pitch change bearings P/No 6010F234M16 (704A33-651-190).
Note: DGAC TAD T2001-074-081(A) refers.
Compliance: For AS 350 B3 version:
At 300 flight hours bearing time since new, thereafter at 300 flight bearings hours time since new.
For AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, and D versions:
At 1200 flight hours bearing time since new, thereafter at 1200 flight hours bearing time since new.
This Amendment becomes effective on 31 October 2002.
Background: This Airworthiness Directive is prompted by advice from the DGAC that cracks have been found in some tail rotor pitch change plate bearings, which can lead to malfunction of the plate and loss of control of the helicopter.
This Amendment has been issued to reflect compliance that is now relevant.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective 7 March 2001.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 24 September 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 9 October 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B09372, addresses the critical safety concern of tail rotor pitch change bearings in certain Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), was introduced to ensure that the identified unsafe condition, namely the cracking of tail rotor pitch change plate bearings, is rectified to prevent potential loss of control of the aircraft. The policy objective behind this amendment is to enhance the safety of air travel by enforcing stringent safety directives that are in line with international safety standards and based on expert advice from the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). This legislative action reflects a commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting both the aircraft and its occupants.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, specifically under Part 39, governs various safety aspects of civil aviation within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/ECUREUIL/66 Amendment 1, pertains to all Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, including versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, that are equipped with a specific tail rotor pitch change plate SNR bearing, P/No 6010F234M16 (704A33-651-190). The directive mandates the replacement of these bearings to rectify an unsafe condition that has been identified. The requirement for replacement is based on flight hour intervals, with different intervals specified for AS 350 B3 versions compared to other versions, reflecting the urgency and specific circumstances surrounding the identified safety issue. This amendment, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, is designed to ensure that the safety concerns are adequately addressed, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the affected helicopters.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, specifies that the CASA delegate, James Coyne, has revoked Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/66 and issued a new AD (1). This directive is applicable to all Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) series helicopters, including versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, that are fitted with tail rotor pitch change plate SNR bearings, P/No 6010F234M16 (704A33-651-190) (2). The directive mandates the replacement of these bearings to address the issue of cracks that may lead to malfunction of the tail rotor pitch change plate and potential loss of control of the helicopter (3). The compliance section stipulates different intervals for the replacement of these bearings, depending on the version of the helicopter: for AS 350 B3, replacement must occur at 300 flight hours bearing time since new, then at every 300 flight hours thereafter; for AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, and D versions, replacement is required at 1200 flight hours bearing time since new, then at every 1200 flight hours thereafter (4). The AD became effective on 31 October 2002.
The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and specific to the types of helicopters mentioned. Owners or operators of these helicopters must ensure that the tail rotor pitch change bearings, P/No 6010F234M16 (704A33-651-190), are replaced as per the stipulated intervals (5). The AD further directs that the replacement must be carried out in accordance with the instructions provided, which includes the reference to DGAC TAD T2001-074-081(A) (6). Failure to adhere to these requirements can lead to unsafe conditions and potentially severe operational risks.
The legislation also outlines the consequences of non-compliance with the AD. While the AD does not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives generally results in significant repercussions under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Violation of these requirements can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory penalties. The severity of the penalties is dependent on the nature and extent of the non-compliance and can result in substantial financial and operational repercussions for the non-compliant party.