COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters
AD/BK 117/1
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Blade Bonding 2/94
Applicability: All models fitted with tail rotor blades P/n 117-31742 serial numbers 63 to 82. Requirement: Action in accordance with Japan Civil Aviation Bureau AD TCD 2589-2-90. Compliance: For Tail Rotor Blades with:
- less than five hours time in service prior to 23 July 1990, replace prior to further flight, and
2. more than five hours time in service prior to 23 July 1990, inspect prior to each flight in accordance with the requirement document.
3. this amendment is effective 3 February 1994.
Note: The previous effective date of this Directive was 24 August 1987.
Background: Some blades may have had inadequate bonding. Amendment 1 is to reflect the latest issue of the requirement document.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B10860, specifically address the safety of Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters through Airworthiness Directives. This legislative instrument was enacted to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft by addressing specific safety concerns, particularly with the tail rotor blades of the Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters. The problem it was introduced to address was the potential inadequacy of bonding in certain tail rotor blades, which could compromise the structural integrity and safety of the helicopter. The policy objective of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, overseen by the Australian Parliament, is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation through stringent regulatory measures. This particular amendment, effective from 3 February 1994, mandates specific actions to rectify bonding issues in the tail rotor blades, ensuring that these helicopters meet the required safety standards before and during flights.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, govern the applicability of airworthiness directives, including the Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters AD/BK 117/1 Amendment 1 concerning tail rotor blade bonding. This legislative instrument applies to all models of Kawasaki BK 117 Series helicopters equipped with tail rotor blades identified by part number 117-31742 and serial numbers ranging from 63 to 82. The directive mandates actions in accordance with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau AD TCD 2589-2-90. For blades with less than five hours of time in service before 23 July 1990, the directive requires replacement before further flight, while blades with more than five hours of service prior to the same date must be inspected before each flight in line with the specified requirements. This amendment came into effect on 3 February 1994, although it was originally effective from 24 August 1987. The regulation underscores the importance of ensuring the structural integrity of helicopter tail rotor blades to maintain safety standards in Australian civil aviation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters, detailing the requirements for tail rotor blade bonding. The directive, AD/BK 117/1 Amendment 1, applies to all models of the BK 117 series fitted with tail rotor blades P/n 117-31742, serial numbers 63 to 82 (section 1). This directive mandates actions in accordance with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau AD TCD 2589-2-90 (section 1). The directive specifies that tail rotor blades with less than five hours of service time prior to 23 July 1990 must be replaced before further flight, while those with more than five hours of service time prior to that date must be inspected prior to each flight according to the specified requirement document (section 2). The amendment is effective from 3 February 1994, with a previous effective date of 24 August 1987 (section 3).
Entities governed by this directive must adhere to strict compliance protocols to ensure the airworthiness of the Kawasaki BK 117 Series Helicopters. Owners or operators of these helicopters must ensure that the tail rotor blades are either replaced or inspected as per the specified criteria. This involves meticulous record-keeping to determine the service hours of each blade and ensuring that any required maintenance or replacement is carried out in strict accordance with the AD/BK 117/1 Amendment 1 (section 2). Compliance with these regulations is crucial to maintain the safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this directive can result in severe penalties and consequences. The primary risk is the potential for in-flight failure of the tail rotor blades, which can lead to loss of control of the helicopter and catastrophic accidents. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with ADs can result in civil penalties, including fines, and criminal charges for operators who fail to adhere to mandatory safety regulations. The maximum penalties for such offences can include substantial fines and imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of aviation safety breaches (section 3). Additionally, non-compliance can lead to the suspension or revocation of an aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, effectively grounding the helicopter until the required actions are completed.