COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety 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 issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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/96 Rear Structure Junction Frame 5/2004
Applicability: Model AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D helicopters:
- pre-Mod 073215, or
- not equipped with the four reinforcement angles, part numbers 350A08.2493.20 /
.21 / .22 / .23, following the repair carried out in accordance with MRM Work Card 53.10.22.772.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.43 original issue, or Revision 1.
Note: DGAC AD F-2004-035 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with the effective date of this Directive substituted for receipt date of the Requirement document.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 13 May 2004.
Background: Reports were received by the manufacturer of cracks in the rear structure / tail boom junction frame during unscheduled inspections. In some cases, the crack lengths were significant and were not visible externally on the tail boom skin. Undetected cracking combined with a high thrust load from the tail rotor, may result in failure due to insufficient strength margins of the junction frame.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.
Page 1 of 1
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to ensure the safety of civil aviation within the country. One particular issue these regulations address is the maintenance of airworthiness of aircraft, as evidenced by the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued for the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. This AD, identified as AD/ECUREUIL/96, was introduced in response to reports of cracks in the rear structure or tail boom junction frame of specific AS 350 models. These cracks, which could go undetected externally, posed a significant safety risk due to potential failure under high thrust loads. The directive mandates that actions be taken in accordance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.43 to rectify the issue, ensuring that the aircraft maintain their airworthiness and comply with safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), under which this Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued, apply to all civil aviation activities within Australia and its territories. Specifically, this AD pertains to Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series helicopters, particularly models AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, and D that are pre-Mod 073215 or not equipped with the specified four reinforcement angles following a repair. The directive mandates actions to address the unsafe condition of the rear structure junction frame as detailed in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.43, aiming to rectify the risk of undetected cracks that could compromise the structural integrity during operation. This AD is effective from 13 May 2004 and must be adhered to by the relevant aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to ensure compliance with civil aviation safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, detail the process and requirements for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These ADs are intended to address identified safety issues in aircraft or aeronautical products. For example, AD/ECUREUIL/96 pertains to the Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) series helicopters and mandates actions to rectify issues in the rear structure junction frame (section 39.1 (1)). The directive applies to certain models of the AS 350 series helicopters that are either pre-modification 073215 or not equipped with specific reinforcement angles, as detailed in the requirement section.
This AD imposes obligations on the operators of the specified Eurocopter AS 350 series helicopters. Operators must ensure that the actions outlined in the requirement section are adhered to strictly. The requirement section refers to the Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.43, which provides the necessary details for the inspection and, if necessary, the repair of the rear structure junction frame. Operators are expected to follow these instructions to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft, ensuring that the aircraft meet safety standards as per the AD.
Failure to comply with the AD can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with the AD/ECUREUIL/96 may lead to significant safety risks, including potential structural failure during operation, which could result in accidents. The regulations do not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties within the text provided; however, non-compliance with CASA directives can generally lead to enforcement actions, including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. These penalties can be substantial, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring aviation safety.