COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) Series Helicopters
AD/GAZELLE/16 Electric Hoist Installation 1/92
Applicability: All SA 341 and SA 342 helicopters as specified in the requirement document. Requirement: 1. If not already incorporated, modify the hoist in accordance with paragraph 1 C 1 of
Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25.05.
2. Carry out an Electrical Bonding Check in accordance with paragraph 1 C 2 of Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25-05.
Note 1. Do NOT re-install the pyrotechnic cable cutting squib in accordance with Aerospatiale SB 25-05. AD/SUPP/12 refers.
Note 2: DGAC AD 91-203-035(B) also refers. Note 3: AD/SUPP/13 also refers.
Compliance: Requirement 1. Within 50 hours time in service after 12 January 1992, but no later than 12 March 1992.
Requirement 2. Within 50 hours time in service after 12 January 1992, but no later than 12 March 1992, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 24 months; and on each occasion following removal and reinstallation of the hoist or the hoist arm to the aircraft.
Background: A number of inadvertent firings of the pyrotechnic cable cutting device on a variety of helicopter electric hoists resulted in the removal of the pyrotechnic device from all hoists when used for personnel winching pending further investigation (AD/SUPP/12 refers). The pyrotechnic cable cut device is however still required to be fitted to hoists when hoisting cargo.
AD/SUPP/13 requires modification and testing of the bonding between the component parts of the Air Equipment Hoist P/No 76370 (all variants). Compliance with this AD (AD/GAZELLE/16) will ensure the integrity of the bonding between the hoist and the aircraft, and reduce the likelihood of un-commanded cable cuts when the pyrotechnic device is fitted for cargo winching. Note however that fitment of the pyrotechnic device for personnel winching is still prohibited by AD/SUPP/12 pending further investigation.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include specific provisions for ensuring the airworthiness of various aircraft, including helicopters. One such provision, part of Schedule 105 under PART 39, pertains to the Eurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) series helicopters. This legislation was enacted to address safety concerns related to the electric hoist installations on these aircraft, particularly the inadvertent firings of pyrotechnic cable cutting devices. The objective of this airworthiness directive, AD/GAZELLE/16, is to ensure the integrity and safety of the hoist system by modifying the hoist and conducting regular electrical bonding checks, while prohibiting the reinstallation of the pyrotechnic cable cutting squib for personnel winching until further investigation is completed. Compliance with these directives is mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to mitigate risks associated with the use of these helicopters.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate specific requirements for the airworthiness of Eurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) series helicopters through the Airworthiness Directive AD/GAZELLE/16. This directive applies specifically to all SA 341 and SA 342 helicopters and encompasses modifications to the electric hoist installation and electrical bonding checks to ensure safety and compliance with industry standards. The directive mandates that hoists must be modified in accordance with Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25.05 and an Electrical Bonding Check must be performed as specified, with specific timelines and conditions for compliance. Notably, the directive prohibits the re-installation of the pyrotechnic cable cutting squib, referencing other directives and service bulletins that provide further detail on related safety measures. Compliance with these directives is critical within specific timeframes and intervals to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 concerning the airworthiness directives for Eurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) series helicopters are outlined in AD/GAZELLE/16. This directive, concerning the electric hoist installation, specifies two primary requirements (AD/GAZELLE/16). Firstly, helicopter operators must modify the hoist in accordance with paragraph 1 C 1 of Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 25.05 if it has not already been done (AD/GAZELLE/16, Requirement 1). Secondly, an Electrical Bonding Check must be carried out in accordance with paragraph 1 C 2 of the same service bulletin (AD/GAZELLE/16, Requirement 2). Importantly, operators should not reinstall the pyrotechnic cable cutting squib, as this is prohibited under AD/SUPP/12, with further details found in AD/GAZELLE/16, Note 1.
Operators and entities governed by this directive have specific obligations and requirements to adhere to, as stipulated in the regulations. For Requirement 1, the modifications to the hoist must be completed within 50 hours of time in service after 12 January 1992, but no later than 12 March 1992. For Requirement 2, the Electrical Bonding Check must also be performed within the same timeframe and then at intervals not exceeding 24 months. Additionally, this check must be carried out every time the hoist or hoist arm is removed and reinstalled (AD/GAZELLE/16, Compliance).
Breach of these requirements can result in legal consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance with these directives, non-compliance with civil aviation regulations generally can lead to enforcement actions, fines, and other administrative penalties. The severity of these penalties can vary based on the nature and extent of the non-compliance. Additionally, failure to adhere to these directives can compromise the safety of the aircraft and its passengers, potentially resulting in more severe civil or criminal liabilities if an incident occurs due to non-compliance.