COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/67 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.
AD/ECUREUIL/67
Amdt 1
Rear Bench Cushions 6/2001 TX
Applicability: All AS 350 helicopters, versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3 and D equipped with a rear bench seat.
Requirement: Remove any unoccupied cushions from the rear bench seat, unless the seat cushions are restrained by mechanical means approved in accordance with CAR 35 in addition to the existing Velcro method.
Note: DGAC AD 2001-088-082(A) refers.
Compliance: Before any flight with the door(s) removed or the sliding door(s) in the open position after 12 April 2001.
If the cushions are not restrained by additional mechanical means, a copy of this Directive is to be carried in the aircraft at all times.
This Amendment becomes effective on 12 April 2001.
Background: The DGAC has received two reports of in-flight loss of the rear bench seat cushion in doors removed configurations. The lost cushions might contact the main or tail rotor causing loss of control of the helicopter.
Amendment 1 is issued to introduce alternate means of compliance to cushion removal in aircraft operating with sliding door(s) open or removed.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 11 April 2001.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 11 April 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 April 2001.