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 269/65
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Blade Corrosion 7/86
Applicability: All models, fitted with tail rotor blades P/No. 269A6035-21 with S/Nos. prior to 0877 and tail rotor blades P/No. 269A6035-23 with S/Nos. prior to 2710.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Hughes SIN No. N-162.
Note: FAA AD 79-23-03 R1 Amdt 39-5282 also refers.
Compliance: As per Requirement Document.
Background: Evidence of corrosion in the interior of the steel spar in the subject tail rotor blades has been found. Amdt 1 limits applicability to those T.R. blades manufactured prior to the introduction of improved corrosion protection at manufacture.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, include Airworthiness Directives aimed at maintaining the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. The amendment AD/HU 269/65, introduced in 1986, addresses the issue of corrosion in the tail rotor blades of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This directive was enacted to ensure that these critical components are maintained or replaced to prevent further degradation, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft. The policy objective is to mandate specific maintenance actions for identified models to mitigate risks associated with corrosion, thereby ensuring the continued safe operation of affected helicopters.
The Australian Parliament, through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, introduced this directive to address the identified safety concerns. The requirement for compliance is detailed in Hughes Service Instruction Notice (SIN) No. N-162, which outlines the necessary actions to rectify the corrosion issues. This directive complements similar measures issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States, as referenced in FAA AD 79-23-03 R1 Amdt 39-5282. Compliance with these directives is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the tail rotor blades, particularly those manufactured prior to the implementation of enhanced corrosion protection measures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as outlined in PART 39 - 105, mandate specific Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety and operational integrity of aircraft within Australia. One such directive, AD/HU 269/65 Amendment 1, addresses corrosion issues in the tail rotor blades of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This legislation applies to all models of the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters fitted with specific tail rotor blades identified by their part numbers and serial numbers, specifically those manufactured before certain dates. The directive requires action in accordance with Hughes Service Information Notice No. N-162, aligning with Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Directive 79-23-03 Revision 1 Amendment 39-5282. Compliance with these directives is essential to rectify and prevent the corrosion of tail rotor blades, which has been evidenced in certain models. This regulation underscores the commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation within Australia by mandating specific maintenance actions to mitigate identified risks.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR) under Part 39, particularly the Airworthiness Directives for Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, establish critical safety protocols for certain models of helicopters. Specifically, AD/HU 269/65 Amendment 1 addresses corrosion issues in tail rotor blades, identified by specific part and serial numbers (sections 1-2). The directive requires action in accordance with Hughes Service Instruction Notice (SIN) No. N-162 and references FAA AD 79-23-03 R1 Amendment 39-5282 (section 3). The main requirement is to follow the detailed actions outlined in the Hughes SIN to address and mitigate the risk of corrosion in the tail rotor blades.
Under these regulations, all operators and owners of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters must ensure compliance with the specified directive to maintain airworthiness. This includes conducting thorough inspections and necessary repairs or replacements of the affected tail rotor blades. Operators must adhere to the guidance in Hughes SIN No. N-162, ensuring that all actions are performed correctly and documented properly to meet the regulatory requirements (section 4). The regulations impose a duty on the operators to ensure that all maintenance and inspection work is carried out by qualified personnel and to maintain accurate records of such activities.
Failure to comply with the provisions of these airworthiness directives can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are satisfactorily completed. Furthermore, the regulations establish that operators who fail to adhere to these safety directives may face enforcement actions from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This could include administrative penalties or legal proceedings, which could result in substantial fines or other sanctions. The severity of the penalties is commensurate with the degree of non-compliance and the risk posed to aviation safety (section 5).