AD/HU 269/87 - Tail Rotor Attachment Area

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safe operation of aircraft in Australia. Part 39, specifically, addresses the safety requirements and standards for airworthiness directives. One such directive, AD/HU 269/87, pertains to the Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters, aiming to address a critical safety concern involving the tail rotor attachment area of certain model 269C helicopters. This directive was introduced to rectify a potential error in the tail boom bolt hole locations, which could lead to misalignment of the tail rotor drive shaft and the drive spline, thereby ensuring the safe and reliable operation of these aircraft. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance the safety standards in civil aviation, ensuring that any identified risks are mitigated promptly and effectively.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, governs the airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including the AD/HU 269/87 concerning Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This legislation applies to all model 269C helicopters fitted with tailboom part number 269A2320 and serial numbers ranging from S001 to S171. The requirement is for compliance with Schweizer Service Instruction N-200, which pertains to the attachment area of the tail rotor. Operators must ensure that the specified action is taken within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1987, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after the specified date, whichever is later. This regulation aims to mitigate the risk of tail rotor drive shaft disengagement, which could arise from an error in the positioning of five tail boom bolt holes at boom station 283.06, potentially leading to misalignment between the tail rotor drive shaft and the drive spline.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR), particularly in Part 39, mandates the compliance with airworthiness directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Section 105 of the CAR addresses specific airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models, including Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. The directive AD/HU 269/87 is specifically concerned with the tail rotor attachment area of these helicopters (section 105(1)). This directive applies to all model 269C helicopters fitted with a specific tailboom part number (P/N 269A2320) and serial numbers ranging from S001 to S171 (section 105(2)). The directive requires action to be taken in accordance with Schweizer Service Instruction Notice (SIN) N-200, which likely includes a specific inspection and repair procedure (section 105(3)). The CAR imposes obligations on the operators of these helicopters to ensure they comply with the AD/HU 269/87 directive. Operators must perform the required actions within 100 hours of the helicopter's time in service after 30 September 1987, or at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue following that date, whichever is later (section 105(4)). This ensures that the identified issue with the tail rotor attachment area is addressed promptly to maintain the airworthiness of the helicopter. Compliance with this directive is critical to ensuring the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Failure to comply with the AD/HU 269/87 directive can result in significant legal and safety consequences. Section 105(5) of the CAR outlines that non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. In the case of serious non-compliance, CASA can impose penalties including fines and potential prosecution. The maximum penalties for non-compliance can be substantial, reflecting the serious nature of ensuring airworthiness in aviation. The specific penalties are determined by the severity of the breach and are subject to the broader provisions of the CAR and other relevant legislation.