COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Enstrom F-28 Series Helicopters
AD/ENST 28/27 Narrow Chord Tail Rotor Forged Grips - Inspection
2/85
TX
Applicability: All F-28A and 280 models with narrow chord tail rotor blade grips P/N 28-15012 or 28-150024-11.
Requirement: Enstrom Service Directive Bulletin No. 0067.
Compliance: Para. A: Prior to the next flight and each flight thereafter until Para B to I is accomplished.
Para B to I: Within 25 hours time in service after 16 January 1985. Para J: As per Requirement Document.
Note: Para A of this Directive may be accomplished by the pilot in command, in which case he shall enter and certify for this AD in Col 2, Part 3 of the Maintenance Release on each occasion.
Background: Three reported instances of blade grip cracking have been received. One accident has been attributed to complete failure and subsequent loss of the tail rotor blade.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), was enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. In addressing the identified gap related to the structural integrity of tail rotor blade grips on Enstrom F-28 Series Helicopters, the 1998 Regulations were amended to include specific airworthiness directives. AD/ENST 28/27, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, was introduced to mitigate risks associated with narrow chord tail rotor forged grips. This directive mandates inspections and compliance to ensure the operational safety of the affected aircraft models, specifically F-28A and 280 series helicopters equipped with narrow chord tail rotor blade grips P/N 28-15012 or 28-150024-11. The policy objective is to prevent blade grip cracking, which has been linked to accidents due to the complete failure of the tail rotor blade, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, under Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically addresses the Enstrom F-28 Series Helicopters with narrow chord tail rotor blade grips. This legislative instrument applies to all F-28A and 280 models equipped with narrow chord tail rotor blade grips with part numbers 28-15012 or 28-150024-11. The directive mandates compliance with Enstrom Service Directive Bulletin No. 0067, which includes conducting inspections and, where necessary, replacements of the narrow chord tail rotor blade grips to mitigate the risk of blade grip cracking, which has resulted in accidents. The directive requires inspections to be carried out prior to the next flight and each subsequent flight until the more comprehensive measures outlined in Para B to I are completed within 25 hours of time in service after 16 January 1985, with additional requirements specified in Para J. The pilot in command can perform the initial inspection as stated in Para A, certifying compliance in the maintenance release documentation. This directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring consistent safety standards are met throughout the nation’s airspace.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within PART 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives for the Enstrom F-28 Series Helicopters (AD/ENST 28/27). This legislation mandates the inspection of narrow chord tail rotor forged grips in specific models to mitigate safety risks. The applicable models are the F-28A and 280, identified by narrow chord tail rotor blade grips with part numbers 28-15012 or 28-150024-11 (Section 105). The requirement is to adhere to Enstrom Service Directive Bulletin No. 0067. The inspection must be carried out prior to the next flight and each subsequent flight until the comprehensive inspection outlined in paragraphs B to I is completed (Section 105). Additionally, a thorough inspection must occur within 25 hours of time in service after 16 January 1985, as specified in paragraph J, in accordance with the requirement document (Section 105).
The Act imposes obligations on operators and owners of the specified Enstrom F-28 Series Helicopters to ensure compliance with the airworthiness directive. Operators must ensure that the inspection is performed by qualified personnel prior to each flight, and the pilot in command must certify the compliance in column 2, part 3 of the Maintenance Release (Section 105). Furthermore, the comprehensive inspection as outlined in paragraphs B to I must be completed within the specified timeframe to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being grounded, thus affecting operational safety and regulatory compliance.
Failure to adhere to the provisions of the airworthiness directive may result in severe consequences. Non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the aircraft, which not only affects operational efficiency but also poses safety risks. Additionally, there may be civil or criminal penalties for breaches, although specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative text. Given the history of blade grip cracking and subsequent accidents, the importance of compliance cannot be overstated. Ensuring adherence to the directive is critical to prevent accidents and maintain the safety standards required by CASA.