Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted in 1998, establish the legal framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. The regulations are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for issuing airworthiness directives to address identified safety issues. One such airworthiness directive, AD/MAKILA/3, was issued in 2000 to address a potential safety issue with Turbomeca Makila series engines installed on AS 332 "Super Puma" helicopters. The directive was introduced following an incident investigation by the French Direction Generale de L’Aviation Civile, which revealed that the existing failure detection laws may not prevent the power turbine from overspeeding, potentially leading to catastrophic failure. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure that the engines are modified to correct the identified deficiency and maintain the highest safety standards in Australian civil aviation. The Airworthiness Directive AD/MAKILA/3, issued by CASA under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, mandates that Makila 1A and 1A1 engines installed on AS 332 "Super Puma" C, C1, L and L1 helicopters must be modified by incorporating Turbomeca Modification TU 203 in accordance with Turbomeca Service Bulletin No 298 73 0146 dated 13 January 2000. This modification is necessary to correct the identified potential for the power turbine to overspeed, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic failure. The directive became effective on 20 April 2000 and required compliance by 31 December 2001, ensuring that all affected engines were modified within the specified timeframe to maintain airworthiness and safety in Australian civil aviation.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies specifically to Makila 1A and 1A1 engines installed on AS 332 "Super Puma" C, C1, L, and L1 helicopters. The directive is issued to address a safety concern identified by the French Direction Generale de L’Aviation Civile, which found that the existing failure detection laws may not prevent the power turbine from overspeeding, potentially leading to catastrophic failure. The requirement mandates that the engine's electronic control unit be modified by incorporating Turbomeca Modification TU 203, as per Turbomeca Service Bulletin No 298 73 0146 dated 13 January 2000, with the directive referencing DGAC AD 2000-067(A). This modification must be completed before 31 December 2001 to ensure compliance with the safety standards set forth by the CASA. The directive became effective on 20 April 2000, indicating the urgency and importance of the safety measure to be undertaken by the relevant helicopter operators.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive AD/MAKILA/3/2000 (section 4) pertains to Makila 1A and 1A1 engines installed on AS 332 "Super Puma" C, C1, L, and L1 helicopters. This directive requires the modification of the engine electronic control unit by incorporating Turbomeca Modification TU 203 in accordance with Turbomeca Service Bulletin No 298 73 0146 dated 13 January 2000 (section 4). The directive references DGAC AD 2000-067(A) and mandates that this action must be completed before 31 December 2001 (section 4). This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 20 April 2000 (section 4). This Airworthiness Directive imposes specific obligations on the operators of AS 332 "Super Puma" C, C1, L, and L1 helicopters equipped with Makila 1A and 1A1 engines. Operators must ensure that the electronic control unit of the affected engines is modified as per Turbomeca Modification TU 203. This modification must be carried out in compliance with the instructions provided in Turbomeca Service Bulletin No 298 73 0146, dated 13 January 2000. The modification must be completed by 31 December 2001 to remain compliant with the directive. Non-compliance with this directive could result in the engine not being considered airworthy, potentially leading to grounding of the affected aircraft. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive is an offence. The Civil Aviation Act 1988 provides for various penalties for non-compliance, including fines and imprisonment. Specifically, under section 111 of the Act, an individual may be fined up to $200,000 or imprisoned for up to five years, or both, for contravening the regulations. Furthermore, the operator of an aircraft that does not comply with the regulations may also face administrative penalties, including the possibility of the aircraft being grounded or prohibited from flying until compliance is achieved.