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
AD/HU 369/55 Main Gear Box Ring Gear Carrier Shaft - Inspection
11/82
Applicability: All model 369D series helicopters fitted with main transmission P/N 369D25100 - Basic Configuration.
Note: Transmissions with a letter “U” prefix to the serial number on the transmission ID plate, or transmissions P/N 369D25100-501 and later suffix number configurations are not affected by this Directive.
Document: Hughes SIN No. DN-105.
Note: FAA AD 82-17-01 refers.
Compliance: Inspect in accordance with Part 1 of the document within 100 hours time in service after 30 November 1982, and thereafter at periods not exceeding 300 hours time in service. Inspections in accordance with Part 1 may be discontinued subsequent to inspection in accordance with Part II of the document.
Background: Cracks have been found in the electron beam welded junction of the lower disc of the ring gear carrier and the output shaft of the main gear box.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation through various measures, including the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs). One such directive, AD/HU 369/55, was introduced to address the problem of cracks found in the electron beam welded junction of the lower disc of the ring gear carrier and the output shaft of the main gear box in McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters. The directive requires specific inspections to be carried out to ensure the continued airworthiness of affected helicopters, thereby mitigating potential safety risks. The policy objective of this legislation is to maintain and enhance the safety standards of civil aviation by ensuring that identified issues are systematically addressed and rectified.
This directive applies to all model 369D series helicopters fitted with main transmission P/N 369D25100 - Basic Configuration, excluding transmissions with a letter “U” prefix to the serial number on the transmission ID plate, or transmissions P/N 369D25100-501 and later suffix number configurations. Compliance involves inspecting the helicopters in accordance with the specified parts of the Hughes SIN No. DN-105 document, with inspections to be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1982, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service. The directive references FAA AD 82-17-01 and specifies that inspections in accordance with Part 1 of the document may be discontinued after inspection in accordance with Part II.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive, AD/HU 369/55, pertains to McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters, requiring an inspection of the main gear box ring gear carrier shaft. This directive applies to all model 369D series helicopters equipped with the main transmission P/N 369D25100 - Basic Configuration, excluding transmissions with a "U" prefix to the serial number on the transmission ID plate, as well as those with P/N 369D25100-501 and subsequent configurations. The directive mandates inspections within 100 hours of time in service following 30 November 1982 and at intervals not exceeding 300 hours thereafter, with the possibility of discontinuing inspections in accordance with Part 1 of the document after the first inspection in accordance with Part II of the document. The directive is aimed at addressing cracks found in the electron beam welded junction of the lower disc of the ring gear carrier and the output shaft of the main gear box, thereby ensuring the continued safety and airworthiness of the specified helicopters.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for various aircraft, including the McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters. This regulation is identified as AD/HU 369/55, which pertains to the inspection of the main gear box ring gear carrier shaft. This directive applies to all model 369D series helicopters fitted with the main transmission P/N 369D25100 - Basic Configuration (Section 1). However, transmissions with a letter "U" prefix to the serial number on the transmission ID plate, or transmissions P/N 369D25100-501 and later suffix number configurations, are not subject to this directive.
The regulation imposes specific obligations on the operators of the affected helicopters. Operators must ensure that the inspection of the main gear box ring gear carrier shaft is conducted in accordance with Part 1 of the document within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1982, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service (Section 2). It is permissible to discontinue inspections in accordance with Part 1 of the document once an inspection in accordance with Part II of the document has been completed.
Failure to comply with the inspection requirements outlined in this directive may lead to serious safety implications, as the regulation was issued due to the discovery of cracks in the electron beam welded junction of the lower disc of the ring gear carrier and the output shaft of the main gear box. While the Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly detail specific penalties for non-compliance in this context, failure to adhere to Airworthiness Directives can lead to broader civil and criminal consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. These may include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach and the resulting risk to aviation safety. The specific penalties would be determined by a court based on the circumstances of each case.