COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/HU 369/105 Main Rotor Blade Attach Pins 8/2000
TX
Applicability: Kawasaki 369D and 369HSwith blade attach pins P/N 369A1004-5 manufactured by Avibank Mfg. Inc. on or before December 1992.
Requirement: Action in accordance with JCAB AD No. TCD-5160-1-2000 dated 14 June 2000.
Compliance: Before further flight after the effective date of this directive; thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 29 June 2000.
Background: This directive is issued to detect any fatigue cracking which could lead to failure of the main rotor blades attachment pins.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 28 June 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 29 June 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines various airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aircraft within Australia. One such directive, AD/HU 369/105, addresses the specific issue of fatigue cracking in the main rotor blade attach pins of certain Kawasaki 369 Series helicopters. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, this directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of catastrophic failure due to fatigue cracks in the specified helicopter models. The directive mandates that specific maintenance actions be performed on helicopters with blade attach pins manufactured by Avibank Mfg. Inc. on or before December 1992, to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft. The policy objective is to prevent potential failures that could lead to accidents, thereby protecting both the crew and passengers.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly PART 39 - 105, encompasses a specific Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for certain McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters. This directive applies specifically to Kawasaki 369D and 369HS helicopters equipped with main rotor blade attach pins manufactured by Avibank Mfg. Inc. on or before December 1992. The directive mandates corrective action to address potential fatigue cracking in these attach pins, a safety measure intended to prevent potential failure of the rotor blades. The AD stipulates that the required action must be performed in accordance with JCAB AD No. TCD-5160-1-2000 dated 14 June 2000, and it necessitates compliance before further flight after the effective date of the directive and at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service thereafter. This Airworthiness Directive applies within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia and is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 29 June 2000, marking its official implementation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39-105, address the safety directives concerning the McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters, focusing on the main rotor blade attach pins. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/HU 369/105, issued on 8 August 2000, applies to Kawasaki 369D and 369HS helicopters equipped with blade attach pins manufactured by Avibank Mfg. Inc. on or before December 1992. The directive mandates corrective action to address potential fatigue cracking in these pins, as outlined in JCAB AD No. TCD-5160-1-2000 dated 14 June 2000. This action is required before further flight after the directive's effective date and must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service.
Under the AD, the primary obligation for the parties or entities governed by this directive is to ensure that the specified maintenance action is carried out on the affected helicopters. This involves adhering to the detailed instructions provided in JCAB AD No. TCD-5160-1-2000, which includes specific procedures for inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the blade attach pins to prevent any potential failure due to fatigue cracking. This requirement underscores the importance of maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft by addressing potential safety hazards proactively.
Breach of this Airworthiness Directive can have significant consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not specify particular offences or penalties within the text of the AD itself, non-compliance with ADs generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, enforcement notices, and other regulatory measures. The seriousness of non-compliance with ADs stems from their role in ensuring the safety of aviation operations, and any failure to adhere to these directives can potentially result in severe civil and criminal liabilities, especially if such non-compliance leads to an accident or incident.