COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Eurocopter BK 117 Series Helicopters
AD/GBK 117/7 Retrofit of Engine Overspeed Controller 9/96
Applicability: All BK 117 series helicopters fitted with AlliedSignal LTS101-650B1 or LTS101- 750B1 engines incorporating AlliedSignal Service Bulletin LTS 101B-73-10-0127 Revision 2.
Requirement: To prevent a power turbine overspeed and an uncontained engine failure, incorporate the wiring and associated hardware installation requirements detailed in Eurocopter Service Bulletin Number SB-MBB-BK 117-90-103 Revision 1.
Note 1: CAO Airworthiness Directive Part 106 AD/LTS/13 refers. Note 2: FAA Airworthiness Directive AD 95-26-01 refers.
Compliance: Effective 15 August 1996: Concurrent with CAO Part 106 Airworthiness Directive AD/LTS/13, Requirement 2; at the next scheduled 600 hour airframe inspection after the effective date of this directive, but no later than 31 December 1997.
Background: This directive has been issued to require the wiring and associated hardware modifications necessary to permit the incorporation of an electronic engine overspeed controller. The requirement, in conjunction with AD/LTS/13, addresses reports of uncontained power turbine overspeed events.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of the nation's aviation industry. Among its various parts and directives, Part 39 specifically addresses airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable orders designed to correct unsafe conditions on civil aircraft. One such directive, AD/GBK 117/7, focuses on retrofitting engine overspeed controllers in Eurocopter BK 117 series helicopters. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of power turbine overspeed and uncontained engine failure, which can lead to severe safety hazards. The requirement mandates the installation of wiring and associated hardware as specified in Eurocopter Service Bulletin Number SB-MBB-BK 117-90-103 Revision 1, in response to reported incidents of uncontained power turbine overspeed events. Compliance with this directive is necessary to maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft and ensure the safety of flight operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to all BK 117 series helicopters equipped with the specified AlliedSignal LTS101-650B1 or LTS101-750B1 engines that incorporate the relevant Service Bulletin revisions. This regulation is part of the broader framework administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and carries national jurisdictional reach throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive aims to mandate the retrofitting of an engine overspeed controller to prevent power turbine overspeed and the risk of uncontained engine failure. Compliance is mandated under the Civil Aviation Order (CAO) Airworthiness Directive Part 106 and requires adherence to the specified modifications within defined timelines, notably the next scheduled 600-hour airframe inspection after the effective date of the directive, but no later than 31 December 1997. This directive complements other regulatory requirements and references, such as CAO Part 106 AD/LTS/13 and FAA Airworthiness Directive AD 95-26-01, to ensure comprehensive safety measures are in place.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, specify the regulatory framework for the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft, including the detailed provisions found in the Airworthiness Directives (ADs) such as AD/GBK 117/7. This directive applies specifically to all BK 117 series helicopters equipped with certain AlliedSignal LTS101 engines (section 1). The directive mandates the retrofitting of an engine overspeed controller to prevent power turbine overspeeds and potential uncontained engine failures (section 2). It references two other directives: CAO Airworthiness Directive Part 106 AD/LTS/13, Requirement 2, and FAA Airworthiness Directive AD 95-26-01, to provide context and additional requirements (section 3).
Compliance with AD/GBK 117/7 involves incorporating the wiring and associated hardware modifications outlined in Eurocopter Service Bulletin Number SB-MBB-BK 117-90-103 Revision 1 (section 4). The compliance timeline is set such that the modifications must be completed by the next scheduled 600-hour airframe inspection after the directive's effective date of 15 August 1996, but no later than 31 December 1997 (section 5). This ensures that the necessary safety measures are implemented promptly to mitigate the risk of engine failures.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved, including operators and maintainers of BK 117 series helicopters. They must ensure that the retrofitting of the engine overspeed controller is performed in accordance with the specified service bulletin and within the stipulated timeframe (section 6). Operators must maintain records of compliance and ensure that all modifications are documented and approved by the relevant authorities (section 7).
Breaches of these provisions may result in serious safety and legal consequences. Operators failing to comply with the AD may face enforcement actions from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which could include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or other regulatory penalties (section 8). The maximum penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the provided text, but they can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring aircraft safety and airworthiness.