AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amdt 1 - Starflex Star to Main Rotor Shaft Securing Bolts

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, includes Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. Specifically, AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amendment 1 targets the Starflex star to main rotor shaft securing bolts on Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) series helicopters. This legislative instrument was enacted to address the problem of fretting corrosion caused by loose securing bolts, which can lead to cracking and compromise the airworthiness of the aircraft. The Australian Parliament, through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, introduced this directive to ensure the safety and reliability of AS 350 helicopters in operation by mandating specific inspection and maintenance procedures. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation by preventing potential in-flight failures due to the identified issue. The directive specifies compliance requirements based on the aircraft's time in service, mandating inspections and actions at critical intervals to prevent fretting corrosion. For helicopters that have achieved 590 hours of time in service, inspections must occur within 10 hours after 30 October 1980. For those with 300 hours of service, inspections are required upon reaching 600 hours. All aircraft must undergo inspections every subsequent 400 hours. This structured approach ensures that all AS 350 helicopters are regularly inspected and maintained according to stringent safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, applies to all Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters concerning the securing bolts of the Starflex star to the main rotor shaft. This legislative instrument mandates actions in accordance with Aerospatiale AS 350 SB No 05.04 Revision 1, referencing Bureau Veritas Directive 80-184-015(B) R1. The regulation aims to address the issue of fretting corrosion that can lead to cracking in the securing bolts. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applying throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive specifies that for helicopters that have achieved 590 hours of time in service, compliance must be within 10 hours of time in service after 30 October 1980. For those with 300 hours of time in service, compliance must occur upon achieving 600 hours of time in service. Additionally, all aircraft must comply at every subsequent 400 hours of time in service following the initial inspection. This legislative instrument does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the specified service hours. The regulation is part of a broader framework that can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes specific regulations for Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. One such regulation, AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amendment 1, pertains to the Starflex star to main rotor shaft securing bolts. This directive (Section 105) mandates actions in accordance with Aerospatiale AS 350 Service Bulletin No 05.04 Revision 1 and references Bureau Veritas Directive 80-184-015(B) R1. The directive outlines the specific times when inspections and actions must be taken based on the total time in service of the helicopter. The primary requirement of this directive is to address the issue of fretting corrosion, which can lead to cracking, caused by loose Starflex star to main rotor shaft securing bolts. For aircraft that have accumulated 590 hours of time in service, inspections and actions must be taken within 10 hours of time in service after 30 October 1980. For aircraft with 300 hours of time in service, inspections and actions must be taken upon achieving 600 hours of time in service. For all aircraft, inspections and actions must be conducted at each subsequent 400 hours of time in service after the initial inspection periods specified in the directive. Operators and owners of AS 350 helicopters must ensure that the specified inspections and actions are carried out as per the manufacturer's instructions to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. This includes adhering to the repetitive inspection schedule of 400 hours after the initial inspections, as extended by the manufacturer due to the identified issue of fretting corrosion. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in serious safety issues and potential grounding of the aircraft. Non-compliance with the provisions of this directive can lead to severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance within this specific directive; however, general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 apply. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including fines, enforcement notices, and potential prosecution. The severity of the penalties can vary based on the extent of non-compliance and the risk posed to safety. Operators and owners must therefore ensure strict adherence to these directives to avoid any legal repercussions and to maintain the safety and airworthiness of their aircraft.