AD/HU 269/98 - Tailboom Centre Attachment Fitting

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, introduced the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This legislation was enacted to address safety concerns associated with the tailboom centre attachment fitting of these helicopters. The problem arose from reports of fatigue damage in the tailboom centre attachment saddle fitting, which could lead to the complete failure of the fitting, resulting in the loss of the tailboom and control of the helicopter. The Act was established to ensure the safety of Australian registered aircraft by aligning with the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-05-18 Amdt 39-6857, with a revised effective date for Australian conditions. The policy objective is to mandate immediate and repetitive inspections, and to replace the fitting to prevent potential catastrophic failures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, applies to all model 269C series Schweizer (Hughes) helicopters registered in Australia. The regulation mandates adherence to the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 91-05-18 Amdt 39-6857, with a revised effective date of 17 April 1991 for Australian registered aircraft. This directive is necessitated by reports of fatigue damage in the tailboom centre attachment saddle fitting, which could lead to catastrophic failure and loss of control of the helicopter. The directive requires an immediate visual inspection and further repetitive dye penetrant and visual inspection for cracks, with a final action of replacing the tailboom centre attachment fitting. Compliance with this directive is to be documented in the Maintenance Release, with specific certification requirements outlined for inspections performed by the pilot in command. The directive must also be noted in the aircraft's documentation, ensuring thorough adherence and record-keeping by the relevant parties.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, mandates the application of an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters. This directive, identified as AD/HU 269/98, pertains to the tailboom centre attachment fitting (Section 6/91DM). The directive applies to all model 269C series helicopters (Section 1). The primary requirement is that actions must comply with the technical specifications outlined in FAA AD 91-05-18 Amendment 39-6857 (Section 2). Compliance with this directive includes a revised effective date of 17 April 1991 for Australian registered aircraft (Section 3). It is noted that Schweizer Service Bulletin B-239 provides additional context for this directive (Section 4). To comply with the directive, a visual inspection must be performed as specified, and the results documented on the Maintenance Release, marking the directive as maintenance required (Section 5). Operators and owners of Schweizer (Hughes) 269 Series Helicopters are obligated to ensure that the tailboom centre attachment fitting is inspected and maintained according to the AD/HU 269/98 directive. This involves a visual inspection, a repetitive dye penetrant and visual inspection for cracks, and the replacement of the fitting if necessary (Section 6). The pilot in command is permitted to conduct the initial visual inspection, but any certification must be documented on the Maintenance Release (Section 7). A copy of the Airworthiness Directive must be kept in the aircraft at all times (Section 8). The directive is to be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required, ensuring it is part of the ongoing maintenance schedule (Section 9). Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/HU 269/98 may result in significant safety risks, as the directive addresses potential fatigue damage in the tailboom centre attachment fitting that could lead to the loss of the tailboom and control of the helicopter. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance with this directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally considered a breach of civil aviation safety laws. Such breaches may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which could include fines, suspension, or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. The severity of the penalties may depend on the extent of non-compliance and the risk posed to aviation safety (Section 10).