AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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/82 Electric Hoists 2/2003 DM
Applicability: AS 350 helicopters versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3 and D, equipped with the optional Breeze, TRW, Lucas or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist and 26 M hoist box part number (P/N) 350A63-1136-00, not modified per MOD 073190, and delivered before 1 October 2002.
Requirement: 1. Remove and modify the hoist box in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.00.79.
2. 26 M hoist boxes P/N 350A63-1136-00 not modified per MOD 073190, held as spares, may not be installed on any helicopter unless modified in accordance with paragraph 2.B.2.b. of the ASB.
Note: DGAC AD 2002-585(A) refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1:
Helicopters equipped with a Breeze 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist - Within the next 100 hours time in service (TIS) or 2 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this Directive.
Helicopters equipped with a TRW, Lucas or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist - Within the next 550 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this Directive or before replacing the hoist with a Breeze hoist.
For Requirement 2 - As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 8 January 2003
Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/ECUREUIL/82 (continued)
Background: This Directive requires the modification of the 26 M hoist box to prevent the failure of the Breeze hoist pyrotechnic squib electrical control to operate.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 20 December 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 January 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued Airworthiness Directive AD/ECUREUIL/82 on 20 December 2002 under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, to address a safety issue related to the electric hoists in certain Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. The directive mandates specific modifications to the hoist system to prevent failures in the electrical control of the hoist's pyrotechnic squib. It applies to Eurocopter AS 350 helicopters versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3 and D, equipped with specific electric hoists and hoist boxes delivered before 1 October 2002. The directive sets specific compliance timelines for the modifications, depending on the type of hoist installed, aiming to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series helicopters, specifically versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D that are equipped with the optional 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist and 26 M hoist box part number 350A63-1136-00, delivered before 1 October 2002. This AD does not apply to hoist boxes modified per MOD 073190. The directive mandates the removal and modification of the hoist box in accordance with specific instructions from Eurocopter's Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.00.79 to prevent potential failures of the hoist's pyrotechnic squib electrical control. The requirement for compliance varies depending on the type of electric hoist installed, with different timeframes for action to be taken. This directive applies nationally across Australia and was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, effective from 8 January 2003. The directive is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette to ensure its application is widely known and enforced.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/82, issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), mandates specific modifications to the electric hoists of certain Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. The directive applies to AS 350 helicopters versions B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, which are equipped with an optional 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist and 26 M hoist box part number (P/N) 350A63-1136-00, delivered before 1 October 2002, and not modified per MOD 073190 (section 1). The primary requirement is to remove and modify the hoist box in accordance with paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 25.00.79 (section 2). Additionally, spare 26 M hoist boxes P/N 350A63-1136-00, not modified per MOD 073190, must not be installed on any helicopter unless they are modified as specified in paragraph 2.B.2.b. of the ASB (section 2).
The AD imposes obligations on operators of the specified helicopters. For helicopters equipped with a Breeze 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist, the modification must be completed within the next 100 hours time in service (TIS) or 2 months after the effective date of the AD, whichever occurs first. For helicopters equipped with a TRW, Lucas or Air Equipement 300 lb (136 kg) electric hoist, the modification must be completed within the next 550 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of the AD or before replacing the hoist with a Breeze hoist. The directive also requires that any spare 26 M hoist boxes P/N 350A63-1136-00, not modified per MOD 073190, must not be installed unless they are modified in accordance with the ASB (section 3).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in significant safety risks, as the directive is designed to prevent the failure of the Breeze hoist pyrotechnic squib electrical control to operate. However, the AD itself does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance. Compliance is enforced by CASA, and non-compliance may lead to regulatory action, including potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are completed. This ensures that the aircraft continue to meet the necessary safety standards to operate in Australian airspace.