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/97 Pilot's Cyclic Stick Friction Washers 6/2004
DM
Applicability: Model EC 130 B4 helicopters, pre Mod 073531 and fitted with:
- thrust washer part number C671A1006201, of the pilot’s cyclic stick friction device,
- pilot’s cyclic sticks, part number 350A27-5215-00.
Requirement: 1. Flights without friction applied to the pilot’s cyclic stick are prohibited.
2. Remove the pilot’s cyclic stick and replace the thrust washers in accordance with paragraph 2 of Eurocopter EC 130 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 67A005.
3. Replace the stock of washers and modify pilot’s cyclic sticks, held as spares, in accordance with paragraph 2.B.5 of ASB No. 67A005.
Note: DGAC AD F-2004-058 refers.
Compliance: 1. During each flight after 5 May 2004 until Requirement 2 is accomplished.
2. Within 550 flight hours or 6 months after 5 May 2004, whichever occurs first.
3. Before installation on a helicopter.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 5 May 2004.
Background: A report was received of sudden restriction of cyclic stick travel on an EC 120 B helicopter during a flight when the cyclic stick was moved back to neutral.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 29 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 May 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia, and they are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One of the ways CASA ensures safety is through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address identified safety issues. In this regard, the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes the Airworthiness Directive AD/ECUREUIL/97, which applies to Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters. This particular directive was introduced to address the issue of sudden restriction of cyclic stick travel during flight, as reported in an EC 120 B helicopter. The policy objective of this AD is to mandate specific actions to mitigate the identified unsafe condition, thereby enhancing the safety of flight operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products within Australia. This regulation is applicable to all aircraft registered in Australia and operated by Australian entities, as well as any foreign aircraft entering Australian airspace. The scope of this regulation extends to ensuring that aircraft and aeronautical products meet specific safety standards as determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive applies to particular models and components of aircraft, in this case, Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, particularly those fitted with specified parts such as thrust washers and pilot's cyclic sticks. The regulation mandates actions to correct unsafe conditions, such as prohibiting flights without friction applied to the pilot’s cyclic stick and requiring the replacement of specified parts in accordance with detailed instructions. The compliance timeline is set out clearly, with immediate prohibitions and scheduled actions to be completed within specified flight hours or time frames. The regulation also notes the requirement for notifications and compliance to be published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters, identified as AD/ECUREUIL/97 6/2004DM. This AD applies to Model EC 130 B4 helicopters pre Mod 073531 fitted with certain pilot’s cyclic stick parts, specifically thrust washer part number C671A1006201 and pilot’s cyclic sticks part number 350A27-5215-00. The directive is aimed at addressing a safety issue related to the pilot's cyclic stick friction device.
This Airworthiness Directive imposes several key obligations on the operators of the affected helicopters. Firstly, flights without friction applied to the pilot’s cyclic stick are strictly prohibited. Secondly, the directive mandates that the pilot’s cyclic stick be removed and the thrust washers replaced in accordance with paragraph 2 of Eurocopter EC 130 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 67A005. Thirdly, it requires that the stock of washers and pilot’s cyclic sticks held as spares be modified according to paragraph 2.B.5 of ASB No. 67A005. These actions must be taken within specific timeframes and operational conditions to ensure compliance with the directive.
Non-compliance with the Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. Specifically, the directive prohibits flights without the necessary modifications, which can result in safety risks during flight operations. Furthermore, failure to adhere to the specified timeframes and instructions for replacing or modifying the cyclic stick components could lead to further safety issues and potential regulatory action. The directive does not explicitly outline penalties, but non-compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Regulations generally can result in severe penalties, including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft.
It is worth noting that the AD references DGAC AD F-2004-058, indicating alignment with other regulatory bodies’ directives on the same issue. The directive becomes effective on 5 May 2004, and compliance is mandatory for all relevant aircraft within the specified timeframes. This directive is designed to ensure that the safety issues identified are addressed promptly to prevent accidents and maintain the airworthiness of the affected helicopters.