AD/HU 369/63 - Landing Gear Struts and Feet - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, serve to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One specific part of these regulations is Part 39 - 105, which details the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This part addresses potential safety concerns and mandates corrective actions for aircraft to ensure they meet necessary safety standards. One such directive, AD/HU 369/63, pertains to McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters, specifically targeting the inspection of landing gear struts and feet. This directive was introduced in response to suspected cracking in certain parts of the landing gear struts and feet, necessitating revised corrosion prevention and sealing techniques, as well as updated torque load values for the attachment bolts. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for all 500C model 369HS Series helicopters, requiring the inspection within 300 hours of time in service after 28 February 1985. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain and enhance the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives concerning the McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters, with a focus on landing gear struts and feet inspection, as outlined in AD/HU 369/63. This legislation applies to all 500C model 369HS Series helicopters, mandating specific compliance requirements to address the suspected cracking of certain parts, namely the P/N landing gear struts and feet. Compliance must be achieved within 300 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 28 February 1985. The directive also introduces revised corrosion prevention and sealing techniques along with updated torque load values for the landing gear feet/strut attach bolts, aiming to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the specified helicopter models. The regulatory scope extends nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive applies to any person or entity operating the affected helicopter models within Australian airspace. There are no specific exclusions or exemptions detailed in the directive itself, though compliance thresholds are clearly defined. The application of the directive may be further refined or extended through subordinate instruments issued by CASA, which are not explicitly detailed in the provided text.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes a directive concerning the inspection of landing gear struts and feet for McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters. The relevant Airworthiness Directive (AD) is AD/HU 369/63, which pertains to the inspection of landing gear struts and feet (section 2/85). This directive applies to all 500C model 369HS Series helicopters and mandates compliance with certain specifications, including Hughes S.I.N. HN-196. The directive requires that these inspections be completed within 300 hours of time in service after 28 February 1985. The primary obligations imposed by this directive include ensuring that all inspections of the landing gear struts and feet are conducted in accordance with the specified requirements. Operators of the affected helicopters must ensure that any suspected cracking of certain parts, specifically those with part numbers (P/N) mentioned in the directive, is identified and addressed. Additionally, the directive introduces revised corrosion prevention and sealing techniques, along with updated torque load values for the bolts that attach the landing gear feet to the struts. These requirements are designed to enhance the safety and reliability of the aircraft’s landing gear system. Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in AD/HU 369/63 can lead to various consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives is considered a breach of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, and can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Depending on the severity of the breach, penalties can include fines, enforcement notices, and in extreme cases, the grounding of the affected aircraft until compliance is achieved. The exact penalties and consequences would be determined based on the specific circumstances of the breach and CASA's assessment of the risk posed by non-compliance.