AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/90 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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/90
Amdt 1
Flight Control Stop Screws 9/2004
Applicability: Models AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, and Model EC 130 B4 helicopters; without MOD 073206 or MOD 073102 incorporated.
Components affected: roll, pitch, and collective flight control stops.
Requirement: 1. Action in accordance with paragraph 2.B.1. of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins AS 350 No. 67.00.25 R1 or EC 130 No. 67A004 R1, as applicable.
2. Action in accordance with paragraph 2.B.2. of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins AS 350 No. 67.00.25 R1 or EC 130 No. 67A004 R1, as applicable.
Note: DGAC AD F-2003-322 R1 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within 100 flight hours after 30 October 2003, unless already accomplished.
2. Within 500 flight hours or 1 year after 30 October 2003, whichever occurs first. The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue.
This Amendment becomes effective on 2 September 2004.
Background: A report was received of an incident during a ground run-up with a Model EC 120 helicopter, where it was possible to push the collective lever downward beyond it’s normal position. Investigation revealed that the locknut of the low pitch stop had come loose and that the stop was out of adjustment. The worst case scenario is that of collective low pitch stop maladjustment, which can result in rotor under-speed in an auto-rotation situation.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which introduces additional applicability information and revised Requirement documents, with no change to the technical content.
Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters
AD/ECUREUIL/90 Amdt 1 (continued)
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 30 October 2003.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 July 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 August 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Act 1998 was enacted to provide a framework for the regulation of civil aviation safety in Australia, aiming to ensure that aviation activities are conducted in a manner that protects the public and promotes the efficient and safe operation of aircraft. This Act addresses the gap in aviation safety regulation by establishing a robust legislative framework that empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives, such as the one concerning Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, to mitigate safety risks. The policy objective behind this Act is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring that all aircraft and aeronautical products meet stringent safety standards through regulatory oversight. The Act is administered by the Parliament of Australia, and it empowers CASA to delegate certain regulatory functions, including the issuance of airworthiness directives, to ensure that the aviation industry adheres to the highest safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies specifically to certain models of Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, including the AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, as well as the Model EC 130 B4, provided they do not have the modifications 073206 or 073102 incorporated. The directive mandates actions necessary to address unsafe conditions identified in the flight control stop screws of these helicopters. The requirement necessitates compliance with specific paragraphs of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins AS 350 No. 67.00.25 R1 or EC 130 No. 67A004 R1, as relevant. The AD is effective throughout the Commonwealth of Australia and is applicable to any person or entity operating the specified models within this jurisdiction. Compliance must be achieved within 100 flight hours after 30 October 2003, or within 500 flight hours or one year after the same date, whichever comes first. The AD is a legislative instrument issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and its scope can be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments if necessary.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD), effective from 2 September 2004, applies to specific Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) series helicopters, namely the models AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D, and model EC 130 B4, which have not incorporated modifications 073206 or 073102 (section 2). The directive mandates specific actions concerning the flight control stop screws, namely the roll, pitch, and collective flight control stops (section 2). The actions required are detailed in paragraphs 2.B.1. and 2.B.2. of the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins AS 350 No. 67.00.25 R1 or EC 130 No. 67A004 R1, as applicable (section 3). This directive references a French AD, DGAC AD F-2003-322 R1 (section 3).
The AD imposes several obligations on the relevant parties. Firstly, the specified actions must be carried out within 100 flight hours after 30 October 2003 if they have not already been completed (section 4.1). Secondly, if the 100-hour window has passed, the actions must be completed within 500 flight hours or 1 year from the effective date of 30 October 2003, whichever comes first (section 4.2). This directive is aimed at ensuring the safety of the aircraft by correcting a potentially unsafe condition identified in the incident report. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the aircraft being deemed not airworthy.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Airworthiness Directive may result in severe consequences. While the legislation does not explicitly detail specific penalties for non-compliance, it is implied that non-compliance could lead to the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, which may have both civil and criminal ramifications. Under Australian aviation law, operating an aircraft that is not in a condition that is safe to fly can result in penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The specific penalties would depend on the severity of the non-compliance and the discretion of the court.