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 revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/HU 369/106 and issues the following 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 369/106
Amdt 1
Helicopter Technology Main Rotor Blades 1/2001
DM
Applicability: Model 369A, H, HE, HM, HS, D, E, FF, and 500N helicopters, equipped with main rotor blade part number 500P2100-BSC, serial number with a prefix of “K” and 101 through 562; part number 500P2100-101 or 500P2100-301, serial number with a prefix of “A” and 001 through 999 or serial number with a prefix of “B” and 001 through 529; or part number 500P2300-501, serial number with a prefix of “T” and 101 through 107; manufactured by Helicopter Technology Company, LLC.
Requirement: Perform a tap check on both the upper and lower surfaces of each blade in accordance with the “Inspection” paragraph of Helicopter Technology Company , LLC, Mandatory Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100-2R2, dated 14 November 2000.
If any voids are detected on a blade that exceed specified inspection requirements of the service bulletin, before further flight, replace the blade with a serviceable blade.
Note: Emergency FAA AD 2000-25-52 refers.
Compliance: Before further flight after 13 December 2000, unless already accomplished.
This Amendment becomes effective on 13 December 2000.
Background: The FAA received a report of a main rotor blade failure due to fatigue cracking that originated at corrosion pits on the spar bonded surfaces, resulting in an accident that destroyed a Hughes Model 369D helicopter.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which clarifies the affected blade part numbers and serial numbers, as listed in applicability.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 November 2000.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 December 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 20 December 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to provide comprehensive regulations governing civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. One of the key components of these regulations is Part 39, which specifically addresses Airworthiness Directives (ADs). These directives are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address specific safety concerns and rectify unsafe conditions in aircraft. The ADs are a critical tool for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of aircraft in operation within Australia, thereby addressing the problem of ensuring that all civil aircraft meet stringent safety standards. The policy objective behind these regulations is to enhance aviation safety by mandating specific actions to be taken by aircraft operators in response to identified safety risks.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, pertain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which are issued to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/HU 369/106 Amendment 1, applies to McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters that are equipped with certain main rotor blade part numbers and serial numbers, manufactured by Helicopter Technology Company, LLC. The AD mandates a tap check on the upper and lower surfaces of each blade as per the inspection guidelines outlined in Helicopter Technology Company's Mandatory Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100-2R2 dated 14 November 2000. If voids exceeding specified inspection requirements are detected, the blade must be replaced with a serviceable one before further flight. This requirement must be fulfilled before further flight after 13 December 2000, unless already completed. The AD is effective from 13 December 2000, and its application is limited to the specified helicopter models and blade configurations.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, section 105, outlines the schedule of airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Under this part, an Airworthiness Directive (AD) has been issued for McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters. The AD, identified as AD/HU 369/106 Amendment 1, pertains to the main rotor blades of these helicopters and mandates certain actions to be taken to ensure airworthiness (section 105).
The applicability section of the AD specifies the models and serial numbers of the helicopters that are subject to this directive. This includes Model 369A, H, HE, HM, HS, D, E, FF, and 500N helicopters with certain main rotor blade part numbers and serial numbers manufactured by Helicopter Technology Company, LLC. The requirement section mandates that a tap check be performed on both the upper and lower surfaces of each blade, as detailed in Helicopter Technology Company, LLC, Mandatory Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100-2R2, dated 14 November 2000. If any voids exceeding specified inspection requirements are detected, the blade must be replaced with a serviceable one before further flight.
The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties governed by it include the need to perform the specified tap check on the helicopter blades and replace any defective blades as per the instructions provided. The compliance section states that these actions must be completed before further flight after 13 December 2000, unless already accomplished. Failure to comply with the AD could lead to serious safety implications, as it was issued in response to a main rotor blade failure due to fatigue cracking, which resulted in an accident.
Any breach of this Airworthiness Directive may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the AD, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally may result in enforcement actions by CASA. These can include fines, legal proceedings, or other measures to ensure compliance with aviation safety regulations. The severity of the penalties depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance and may be subject to the provisions of other relevant laws and regulations.