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 269/56 Tailboom Support Strut End Fittings - Inspection and Modification
11/76
Applicability: All models with tailboom support strut end fittings P/N 269A2015 or 269A2015-5. Document: Hughes SIN No. N-109.2.
Compliance: For Step I - At each daily or overnight inspection after 6 October 1976.
For Step II - Within 50 hours time in service after 6 October 1976 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours time in service.
For Step III - Within 500 hours time in service after 6 October 1976 or before 31 October 1977, whichever occurs first.
Note: Step I of this Directive shall be entered on the maintenance release as maintenance required. The inspection may be performed by the pilot in command, in which case certification is not required. In all other cases certification may be made on the maintenance release. This inspection may also be performed and certified by any Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Legislative instrument F2006B10618, were enacted to ensure the safety and regulatory compliance of civil aviation activities within Australia. This specific amendment addresses the safety concerns associated with tailboom support strut end fittings in Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. The Australian Parliament established these regulations through the Civil Aviation Act 1988, with the policy objective being to enhance the safety standards and operational integrity of civil aircraft. The amendment mandates a structured inspection and modification process for tailboom support strut end fittings, aiming to prevent potential safety issues that could arise from the identified components. This directive is a part of the broader commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards in Australia's civil aviation sector.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters with tailboom support strut end fittings P/N 269A2015 or 269A2015-5. This legislative instrument is concerned with ensuring the airworthiness of these helicopters by mandating specific inspection and modification protocols for the tailboom support strut end fittings. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this Act extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing compliance with safety standards across all states and territories. The Act requires compliance with three specific steps: Step I, which involves inspection at each daily or overnight inspection after 6 October 1976; Step II, which requires inspection within 50 hours of time in service after 6 October 1976 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours; and Step III, which mandates inspection within 500 hours of time in service after 6 October 1976 or before 31 October 1977, whichever occurs first. Notably, the Act allows for the inspection to be performed by the pilot in command, in which case no certification is required, or by a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, who may certify the inspection on the maintenance release. This directive underscores the importance of regular and stringent checks to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the specified helicopter models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandates certain safety directives for Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. One of the key provisions is AD/HU 269/56, which pertains to the tailboom support strut end fittings of these helicopters. Section 11/76 of the regulations applies to all models with tailboom support strut end fittings P/N 269A2015 or 269A2015-5, as indicated in Hughes SIN No. N-109.2. The directive is divided into three steps: Step I, which requires inspection at each daily or overnight inspection after 6 October 1976; Step II, which necessitates inspection within 50 hours of time in service after 6 October 1976 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours; and Step III, which mandates inspection within 500 hours of time in service after 6 October 1976, or before 31 October 1977, whichever occurs first. The inspection for Step I must be documented on the maintenance release as maintenance required, and it can be performed by the pilot in command without requiring certification. However, for Steps II and III, certification by a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is required.
The obligations imposed by these regulations are clear and specific. Operators of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters must ensure that inspections and modifications are conducted in accordance with the prescribed steps and timelines. For Step I, the inspection must occur at each daily or overnight inspection, and no certification is necessary if performed by the pilot in command. However, Steps II and III require inspections at defined intervals and necessitate certification by a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. These requirements are designed to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the helicopters by addressing potential issues with the tailboom support strut end fittings in a timely and systematic manner.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives can result in serious consequences. Section 11/76 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 imposes penalties for non-compliance, which may include both civil and criminal actions. Civil penalties could involve fines, while criminal penalties may include imprisonment. The specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument but are typically outlined in the broader Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations. Operators must take the directives seriously to avoid potential legal repercussions and to ensure the safety and compliance of their aircraft operations.