COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/HU 269/109 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/HU 269/109
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Swashplate Shaft Inspection 13/2000
Applicability: Schweizer (Hughes) Model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C, 269C-1, 269D and TH-55A Helicopters equipped with a;
- Part number (P/N) 269A6049-3 tail rotor swashplate assembly shipped from the Schweizer factory as a spare between 1 September 1998 and 1 December 1998 inclusive; or
2. P/N 269A6049-3 tail rotor swashplate assembly shipped from the Schweizer factory as a spare where the shipping date is unknown; or
3. P/N 269A6050-5 tail rotor control assembly serial number S1047 through S1061 inclusive.
Requirement: 1. Comply with “PROCEDURE, PART I, Check for Looseness:” of Schweizer Service Bulletin B-271.1, C1B-009.1 or DB-007.1, all dated 14 Oct 1999, as applicable.
2. Comply with “PROCEDURE, PART II, Inspect for Proper Size:” of Schweizer Service Bulletin B-271.1, C1B-009.1 or DB-007.1, all dated 14 Oct 1999, as applicable.
3. For spare assemblies described in 1., 2. or 3. of the Applicability section of this airworthiness directive; comply with the relevant steps of “PROCEDURE, PART II, Inspect for Proper Size:” of Schweizer Service Bulletin B-271.1, C1B-009 or DB-007.1, all dated 14 Oct 1999, as applicable.
Confirmation of swashplate size for correctness is closing action for this Directive.
Note: FAA Airworthiness Directive 2000-16-05 , Amendment 39-11859 refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless previously accomplished, within 10 flight hours of the effective date of this airworthiness directive amendment and thereafter at 10 flight hour intervals until Requirement 2. of this airworthiness directive has been accomplished.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
2. Unless previously accomplished; at the next scheduled 100-Hour or Annual Inspection, whichever occurs first.
3. Prior to installation onto a helicopter.
This Amendment becomes effective on 28 December 2000.
Background: An undersized replacement swashplate shaft was discovered during routine maintenance in the US. An undersized shaft could lead to failure of the shaft and loss of control of the helicopter. This Directive is to check all helicopters for correctly sized shafts and to remove and replace any that are found to be undersized. This amendment has been raised to: add an additional helicopter model, clarify which helicopters are affected, include requirements for affected assemblies held as spares and to refer to the latest issue of the relevant Schweizer service bulletins as the action documents. Helicopters complying with the original issue of the airworthiness directive could be affected by this amendment as some helicopters may now not be applicable.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 29 September 1999.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 November 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 November 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39, specifically section 105, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This section addresses the need for specific safety measures and compliance requirements for various aircraft and aeronautical products to maintain airworthiness. The problem this legislation aims to resolve is ensuring that civil aircraft and their components meet necessary safety standards to prevent accidents and incidents in Australian airspace. This directive was enacted by the Parliament of Australia, with the objective of enhancing aviation safety by providing clear guidelines and mandatory actions for addressing specific safety issues in aircraft. The specific amendment addressed here aims to correct an issue with tail rotor swashplate shafts in certain Schweizer (Hughes) helicopter models, ensuring they are correctly sized to prevent potential loss of control.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and specifically addressing Part 39 - 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, particularly those equipped with specific tail rotor swashplate assemblies. This legislation mandates compliance with the issued airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of these helicopters, which include Schweizer (Hughes) Model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C, 269C-1, 269D and TH-55A helicopters. The directive is applicable to assemblies shipped between specified dates and those with unknown shipping dates, as well as certain serial numbers of the tail rotor control assembly. The regulation requires adherence to specific inspection and procedural requirements detailed in Schweizer Service Bulletins dated 14 October 1999, to address the identified safety concern of an undersized tail rotor swashplate shaft which could lead to failure and loss of control. The scope of the legislation is enforced nationally, as it is a Commonwealth regulation, ensuring consistent safety standards across the aviation industry within Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, outlines specific airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aircraft. In this case, Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/HU 269/109 Amendment 1 focuses on Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, particularly those equipped with certain tail rotor swashplate assemblies. The directive mandates specific inspections and actions to rectify any unsafe conditions identified. The directive applies to Schweizer Model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C, 269C-1, 269D, and TH-55A helicopters that have specific tail rotor swashplate assemblies manufactured between 1 September 1998 and 1 December 1998, or spare assemblies where the shipping date is unknown, or assemblies with specific serial numbers.
The requirements set forth in the directive include adhering to procedures detailed in Schweizer Service Bulletins B-271.1, C1B-009.1, or DB-007.1, all dated 14 October 1999. Specifically, operators must check for looseness and inspect for proper size of the swashplate assemblies. These checks must be performed within 10 flight hours of the directive's effective date, at subsequent 10-flight-hour intervals until the next scheduled 100-hour or annual inspection, and prior to installation on any helicopter. The directive was amended to include additional helicopter models and clarify the scope of applicability, and it references FAA Airworthiness Directive 2000-16-05, Amendment 39-11859.
Operators of the affected helicopters are obligated to comply with the inspection and corrective actions specified in the directive to ensure the airworthiness of their aircraft. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and regulatory penalties. The directive underscores the importance of timely inspections and corrective actions to prevent unsafe conditions that could lead to serious accidents, such as loss of control due to shaft failure.
Violating the requirements of this AD can result in significant consequences, including potential criminal charges for operators who fail to comply with mandatory safety directives. The maximum penalties for non-compliance can include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals responsible for the oversight of the aircraft. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority may take enforcement actions, such as grounding the aircraft or imposing operational restrictions until compliance is achieved. These stringent measures are in place to ensure that all safety directives are strictly followed to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation.