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 369/89 Main Blade Root End 8/96 DM
Applicability: Model 369, 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, and
500N helicopters.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Part I and Part II of McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems Service Information Notice HN-239, DN-188,EN-81, FN-67, or NN-008, as applicable.
Note: FAA AD 96-10-09 Amdt 39-9615 refers.
Compliance: For Part I: Unless the initial inspection has already been accomplished, within 10 hours time in service after 17 June 1996.
For Part II: Within 100 hours time in service after 17 June 1996, thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service.
Background: The FAA received a report of one accident in which a blade separated from the helicopter, as well as eight other reports of cracked blades. The actions specified in this Directive are intended to prevent failure of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve as the primary regulatory framework governing aviation safety within Australia. Part 39 - 105 of the regulations, specifically the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes AD/HU 369/89 concerning the inspection requirements for McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters. This directive was introduced in response to safety concerns highlighted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding blade separation incidents in certain helicopter models. The policy objective of these regulations is to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft by mandating specific maintenance and inspection procedures to prevent accidents caused by structural failures. The directive requires inspections to be conducted in accordance with detailed service information notices and mandates specific timeframes for these inspections to mitigate the risk of blade failure and loss of control of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all operators of McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 Series Helicopters, including models 369, 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, and 500N. These regulations mandate that these helicopters must undergo inspections in accordance with specified parts of McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems Service Information Notices, ensuring adherence to safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The geographic reach of these regulations is national, applying across Australia as per the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The Act includes clear compliance timelines: the initial inspection must be completed within 10 hours of time in service after 17 June 1996 for Part I, while subsequent inspections under Part II must occur within 100 hours of time in service after 17 June 1996 and at intervals not exceeding 100 hours thereafter. These measures were implemented following reports of blade separation and cracked blades, aiming to prevent accidents and loss of control. The application of these regulations may be further defined or modified through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate the compliance with Airworthiness Directives (AD) for certain types of helicopters, including the McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) and Kawasaki 369 series (section 1). The AD in question, AD/HU 369/89, focuses on the main blade root end of these helicopters. It applies to models 369, 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, and 500N (section 2). The directive requires inspections to be carried out in accordance with specific McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems Service Information Notices (HN-239, DN-188, EN-81, FN-67, or NN-008) as relevant, with reference to FAA AD 96-10-09 Amdt 39-9615 (section 3).
The obligations under this regulation require helicopter operators to adhere to the inspection schedules outlined in the directive. For Part I of the inspection, if the initial inspection has not been performed, it must be completed within 10 hours of time in service after 17 June 1996 (section 4). For Part II, inspections must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after the same date, and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service thereafter (section 5). These inspections are critical to ensure the integrity of the helicopter's main blade root end, aiming to prevent accidents such as blade separation and loss of control, which have been reported in the past (section 6).
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives can result in serious legal and safety consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with ADs is an offence (section 7). Violations may lead to civil penalties, including fines, or criminal penalties, depending on the severity and intent behind the non-compliance (section 8). For civil penalties, the maximum fine can be substantial, reflecting the importance of adhering to these safety mandates (section 9). Additionally, criminal penalties may apply, and in severe cases, imprisonment could be imposed (section 10). The potential consequences underscore the importance of strict adherence to the regulations to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.