COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters
AD/HU 269/101 Throttle Control Linkage Restriction 8/93
TX
Applicability: All models; 269A with fuel injected engines, 269A1 and 269B, and 269C S/n 0004 to 1480 and 1482 to 1486; with engine driven fuel pump drain tube assembly P/N 269A8326-95 installed.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Schweizer SB B-235.1
Note: FAA AD 93-05-11 Amdt 39-8515 refers.
Compliance: Part I: Within 5 hours time in service after 02 June 1993.
Part II: Within 5 hours time in service after 02 June 1993 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service.
Part III: a. Prior to 02 December 1993, or
b. Prior to further flight - where the tube is found to be less than 7.50 inches (190.50mm) or is found at any time to interfere with the throttle linkage.
This Directive must be entered on to the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. After the initial inspection, Part II of the Requirement Document may be performed by the pilot in command and a certification is to be made against AD/HU 269/101 on the Maintenance Release at each inspection. A copy of this Directive and the Requirement Document must be carried in the aircraft.
Background: This Directive is issued in response to an incident overseas, where throttle travel was restricted due to interference from the fuel drain tube assembly.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address the need for stringent safety measures in the aviation industry to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations. A specific legislative instrument, F2006B10577, pertains to airworthiness directives for the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, aiming to rectify issues related to throttle control linkage. This directive, AD/HU 269/101, was introduced in response to an incident where throttle travel was restricted due to interference from the fuel drain tube assembly. The regulation mandates specific actions to be taken in accordance with Schweizer Service Bulletin B-235.1, requiring inspections and modifications to ensure the throttle control linkage is not obstructed, thus enhancing flight safety. The compliance requirements specify strict timelines and conditions for inspections and maintenance actions to be documented on the Maintenance Release.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandates Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of civil aviation. The AD/HU 269/101 pertains to the throttle control linkage of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series helicopters, including models 269A with fuel-injected engines, 269A1 and 269B, and 269C with serial numbers ranging from 0004 to 1480 and 1482 to 1486, equipped with an engine-driven fuel pump drain tube assembly P/N 269A8326-95. This regulation is applicable to all entities operating these specific helicopter models within Australia, ensuring compliance with safety standards to prevent incidents similar to the one reported overseas where throttle travel was restricted due to interference from the fuel drain tube assembly. The directive requires actions in accordance with Schweizer Service Bulletin B-235.1, with compliance deadlines and procedures clearly outlined to maintain airworthiness and safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives that govern the maintenance and operational standards of certain aircraft. In this instance, the regulation in focus is AD/HU 269/101, which pertains to the throttle control linkage restriction for Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters (Section 105.1). The directive mandates specific actions to be taken concerning the throttle control linkage and the fuel pump drain tube assembly to ensure safety and compliance with aviation standards.
The obligations under this directive are clear and precise. The directive applies to all models of the Schweizer 269 series helicopters, including specific serial numbers and engine types (Section 105.2). Operators must adhere to the Schweizer SB B-235.1 requirement and follow the Federal Aviation Administration's AD 93-05-11 Amendment 39-8515 for compliance. The directive necessitates that certain actions are taken within specified timeframes. Initially, compliance must be achieved within five hours of the directive's effective date, 02 June 1993 (Section 105.3). Subsequent inspections must be performed at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service (Section 105.4).
There are additional conditions that trigger immediate action. Any helicopter that has the fuel pump drain tube assembly must be inspected before 02 December 1993 or before any further flight if the tube is found to be less than 7.50 inches (190.50mm) or if it interferes with the throttle linkage (Section 105.5). This inspection must be logged on the Maintenance Release, and a certification against AD/HU 269/101 must be made by the pilot in command. Furthermore, a copy of this directive and the associated requirement document must be carried on board the aircraft (Section 105.6).
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/HU 269/101 can result in significant consequences. The regulatory framework does not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance, but it is understood that violations of civil aviation regulations can lead to severe penalties under broader aviation laws. These can include fines, enforcement actions, or even the grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Such actions are taken to ensure the highest safety standards are maintained in the operation of these helicopters.