AD/HU 269/100 Amdt 1 - Clutch Control Spring

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, contain various Airworthiness Directives designed to maintain the safety standards of aircraft operating in Australia. One such directive is AD/HU 269/100 Amendment 1, which pertains to the clutch control spring of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, including models 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C, and all TH55A helicopters. This directive was enacted to address the safety issue arising from the failure of a clutch control spring assembly, which led to an accident involving a 269C helicopter. The directive was introduced to mandate specific actions in accordance with the manufacturer's Service Bulletin B-256-2 and to align with the Federal Aviation Administration's AD 95-03-12 amendment 39-9148. The objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these helicopters by requiring compliance with the manufacturer's guidelines and the subsequent FAA directive. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The policy objective of the directive is to mitigate the risk of accidents caused by the failure of the clutch control spring, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation in Australia. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with an initial inspection required by 28 April 1995, followed by periodic reinspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service, unless a previous inspection has already been conducted as per Schweizer SB B-256-1.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically the amendment AD/HU 269/100 Amendment 1 relating to the clutch control spring of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, applies to all model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C and all TH55A helicopters within the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The directive requires compliance with Schweizer Mandatory Service Bulletin B-256-2, which was necessitated by the failure of a clutch control spring assembly on a 269C helicopter, leading to an accident. This legislative instrument is a Commonwealth regulation and applies nationally across Australia. The requirement mandates immediate action if the clutch control spring has not been previously inspected for wear and security in accordance with Schweizer SB B-256-1, necessitating compliance by 28 April 1995, and subsequent reinspection at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service. This directive supersedes prior FAA Priority Letter AD 93-03-01, reflecting the ongoing collaborative efforts between Australian and international aviation safety authorities to maintain airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within PART 39 - 105, mandate the application of airworthiness directives to ensure the safe operation of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. Section AD/HU 269/100 Amendment 1 pertains to the clutch control spring of model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C, and all TH55A helicopters. This directive requires compliance with Schweizer Mandatory Service Bulletin B-256-2. It is important to note that FAA AD 95-03-12 Amendment 39-9148 supersedes the previous FAA Priority Letter AD 93-03-01. The requirement is to inspect the clutch control spring for wear and security unless it has been previously inspected as per Schweizer SB B-256-1. This initial inspection must be completed by 28 April 1995. Subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the operators of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. Operators must adhere to the manufacturer’s service bulletin B-256-2 and the FAA airworthiness directive. The initial inspection must be carried out before the specified deadline, and if the spring has not been previously inspected for wear and security as per Schweizer SB B-256-1, Part 1 of the Requirement Document must be followed. After the initial inspection, reinspections must be performed at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. These obligations are critical to ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the helicopters. Breach of the requirements outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to various consequences. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives can result in the grounding of the helicopter, which can disrupt operations and potentially lead to safety issues. Additionally, there may be civil or criminal penalties imposed under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. While specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, non-compliance with safety directives can lead to significant financial penalties and legal action. The exact penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and could include fines or other civil liabilities.