AD/HU 269/80 - Throttle and Governor Control Cable Assemblies

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through Legislative Instrument F2006B10639, address a critical safety issue concerning Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This legislative instrument was introduced to mitigate risks associated with potential manufacturing defects, wear, or handling damage in the throttle and governor control cable assemblies of these helicopters, which could lead to cable malfunction. The Australian Parliament enacted this regulation under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 to ensure the continuing airworthiness of these aircraft, thereby protecting public safety. The overarching policy objective is to mandate compliance with specific service information and timelines, as outlined in Schweizer Service Information No. N196, to prevent potential safety hazards arising from faulty cables. The regulation specifies two parts for compliance: the first requiring adherence within 100 hours after 30 June 1986, and the second necessitating compliance at intervals not exceeding 100 hours thereafter. This directive is essential for ensuring that the identified safety issues are addressed promptly, maintaining the operational integrity of the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters within Australia’s aviation framework.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, govern the maintenance and operation of all Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters within Australia. This legislation mandates specific actions for the identified throttle and governor control cable assemblies to ensure continued airworthiness and safety. The directive applies to all model 269 helicopters and requires compliance with Schweizer Service Information No. N196. For helicopters already in service as of 30 June 1986, the action must be taken within 100 hours of time in service following that date, and spares must comply before installation in an aircraft. Additionally, for ongoing operations, the required actions must be performed at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. This directive is grounded in reports indicating potential manufacturing defects, wear, or damage to the throttle cables and governor control cables manufactured by Cablecraft, which could lead to malfunctions. The scope of this legislation ensures that all relevant parties adhere to the specified safety measures to mitigate risks associated with these components.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 that apply here are part of the Airworthiness Directives issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, AD/HU 269/80 pertains to the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters and mandates actions regarding the throttle and governor control cable assemblies. According to section 105 of the regulations, the directive applies to all model 269 helicopters and requires compliance with Schweizer Service Information No. N196 (s. 1). This includes two main parts: Part 1 requires action within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1986 or before installation if the cables are being used as spares (s. 1). Part 2 requires continued action at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service after the initial compliance date (s. 1). The obligations imposed by this directive are primarily on the operators and maintainers of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. They are required to ensure that the throttle and governor control cable assemblies are inspected and, if necessary, replaced or repaired in accordance with Schweizer Service Information No. N196 (s. 1). This directive is intended to mitigate the risk of malfunctions caused by potential manufacturing defects, wear, or handling damage in the cables. It is imperative that these checks and maintenance actions are performed diligently to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. Breaches of the requirements outlined in the AD/HU 269/80 directive could result in serious safety implications and potentially severe consequences. While the regulations themselves do not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or specific civil or criminal consequences for non-compliance, failure to adhere to airworthiness directives can lead to aircraft being grounded or even accidents. Non-compliance may also result in CASA taking enforcement action against the operator or maintainer, which could include fines, enforcement notices, or other regulatory actions. The severity of any penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the extent of the non-compliance, but the overarching goal is to ensure strict adherence to maintain aviation safety standards.