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 269/16
Amdt 4
Horizontal Stabiliser - Inspection 11/67
Applicability: Models 269A and 269B except those with low tip speed tail rotors.
Requirement: 1. Helicopters fitted with horizontal stabiliser P/No. 269A2516. Remove the horizontal stabiliser and inspect as much of the spar as is visible for cracking originating from the fasteners and spot welds along the upper flange of the spar. The inspection can be carried out through the lightening holes in the closing rib.
2. Helicopters fitted with horizontal stabilisers P/No. 269A2511 shall be inspected as detailed in para. 3.
3. Inspect horizontal stabilisers P/No. 269A2516 by means of an approved radiographic technique for cracks originating from the fasteners and spot welds along the upper and lower flanges of the spar between the root and a point fifteen inches outboard of the root.
Compliance: For Para. 1 - At intervals not exceeding 50 hours time in service. For Para. 2 - At intervals not exceeding 400 hours time in service. For Para. 3 - At intervals not exceeding 400 hours time in service.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, introduced comprehensive safety protocols for the aviation industry to address the problem of ensuring airworthiness and safety standards across all aspects of civil aviation operations. This legislation, enacted by the Australian Parliament, aims to maintain the highest levels of safety in civil aviation, reflecting a commitment to protecting public safety and ensuring that aircraft meet stringent safety standards. The specific directive in question, AD/HU 269/16 Amendment 4, targets the inspection of horizontal stabilisers in Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, specifically models 269A and 269B, to prevent structural failures that could compromise flight safety. This directive mandates thorough inspections of certain horizontal stabiliser parts to detect and address potential cracking, ensuring the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. The policy objective is clearly to enhance safety by proactively identifying and rectifying potential structural issues in these helicopters, thereby mitigating risks associated with in-flight failures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focusing on the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This legislative instrument applies to Schweizer (Hughes) 269A and 269B models, excluding those equipped with low tip speed tail rotors. The directive mandates inspections on the horizontal stabilisers of these helicopters to ensure compliance with safety standards. For helicopters fitted with specific horizontal stabiliser parts numbers, it requires a detailed inspection of visible spars for cracking and further radiographic examination to detect any cracks originating from fasteners and spot welds. The inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 50 hours or 400 hours of time in service, depending on the specific part number and type of inspection. The application of these regulations is national in scope, governed by CASA, and there are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive itself, although further guidance or specific conditions might be set forth in subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establishes a schedule of airworthiness directives that are applicable to certain types of aircraft, including Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. The most relevant provision here is AD/HU 269/16 Amendment 4, which pertains to the inspection of the horizontal stabiliser of specified helicopter models. The directive applies to models 269A and 269B, except those equipped with low tip speed tail rotors (section 11/67).
Under this directive, there are three primary inspection requirements. Firstly, for helicopters equipped with a horizontal stabiliser part number 269A2516, the horizontal stabiliser must be removed and the visible portion of the spar inspected for any cracks originating from the fasteners and spot welds along the upper flange. This inspection can be conducted through the lightening holes in the closing rib (section 1). Secondly, helicopters with horizontal stabilisers part number 269A2511 require a detailed inspection as outlined in paragraph 3 of the directive (section 2). Thirdly, all horizontal stabilisers part number 269A2516 must undergo an inspection using an approved radiographic technique for cracks originating from fasteners and spot welds along the upper and lower flanges of the spar, extending from the root to a point fifteen inches outboard of the root (section 3).
Compliance with these inspection requirements is critical and must adhere to strict intervals. For helicopters with part number 269A2516, the inspection must be performed at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service (section 1). For helicopters with part number 269A2511 and those inspected using radiographic techniques, the interval must not exceed 400 hours of time in service (sections 2 and 3).
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives may result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly detail the penalties or consequences for non-compliance in the referenced sections; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally carries significant risks, including potential grounding of the aircraft, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and possible civil or criminal penalties for operators. These penalties can range from fines to more severe sanctions, depending on the severity and frequency of the non-compliance.