AD/HU 269/78 - Tail Rotor Pitch Control Link Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. These regulations address the need to maintain high standards of airworthiness for all aircraft, including specific directives for certain aircraft models to prevent safety issues. One such directive is AD/HU 269/78, which applies to Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, including models 269A, 269A-1, and 269C. The directive aims to rectify potential safety issues by requiring the inspection and rework of the tail rotor pitch control link assembly according to Schweizer Service Information Notice No. N198. This requirement must be met within 50 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date, 16 May 1986, and also applies to spares before installation. The overarching policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by mitigating risks associated with specific components of the specified helicopter models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, pertain to all entities and persons involved in the operation of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters within Australia. Specifically, the regulations apply to all model 269A, 269A-1, and 269C helicopters, mandating compliance with Airworthiness Directive (AD) HU 269/78 concerning the tail rotor pitch control link assembly. The directive requires that inspections and necessary reworks be carried out in accordance with Schweizer Service Information Notice No. N198. This action must be completed within 50 hours of the helicopter's time in service after 16 May 1986, or before installation if the part is a spare. This regulation extends to all Commonwealth jurisdictions and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive, and compliance is mandatory for all specified aircraft. The application of these regulations can be further detailed or extended through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislation, specifically AD/HU 269/78, require that all model 269A, 269A-1, and 269C Schweizer (Hughes) helicopters must comply with the inspection and rework procedure outlined in Schweizer Service Information Notice No. N198 (Section 1). This is to ensure the correct clearance between the tail rotor pitch links and the pitch control housing assembly. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 50 hours of time in service after 16 May 1986, or for spares, before installation in an aircraft (Section 2). The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this Act are stringent and clear. Operators and owners of the specified Schweizer (Hughes) helicopters must ensure that the inspection and rework procedures are carried out by qualified personnel and documented properly (Section 3). The maintenance records must reflect compliance with the directive, and any identified issues must be rectified before the helicopter is returned to service (Section 4). Additionally, all personnel involved in the inspection and rework must be adequately trained and certified as per the requirements set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Section 5). Failure to comply with these provisions can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the grounding of the helicopter until the necessary actions are taken (Section 6). Additionally, there may be enforcement actions taken by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including fines or other penalties as prescribed by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Section 7). In severe cases, the penalties can include substantial fines, and in some instances, criminal charges against individuals or entities responsible for the non-compliance (Section 8). The maximum penalties can vary, but they are designed to ensure strict adherence to the safety directives to prevent any risk to aviation safety.