AD/R22/2 - Tailcone Support Structure - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addressing various safety concerns across different aircraft models. This legislative instrument was enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation by imposing mandatory safety standards and requirements on aircraft operators, manufacturers, and maintenance providers. The legislation seeks to mitigate risks and prevent accidents by issuing directives that mandate specific inspections, repairs, and operational procedures for identified safety issues. One such directive, AD/R22/2, pertains to the Robinson R22 Series Helicopters, particularly targeting models with serial numbers ranging from 0002 to 0082. The directive was introduced to address the problem of potential tailcone loss due to fractures in the supporting framework tubes or welds. The policy objective is to prevent such failures through regular inspections using a dye penetrant technique, ensuring that the structural integrity of the tailcone support is maintained, thereby enhancing the overall safety of the aircraft in service.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued the regulation as part of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, which pertains to airworthiness directives for Robinson R22 series helicopters. This regulation applies specifically to all models R22 with serial numbers ranging from 0002 to 0082. Its purpose is to mitigate the risk of loss of the tailcone due to fractures in the supporting framework tube or tube welds. The regulation mandates inspections using a dye penetrant technique to check for cracks in specified areas and requires the use of particular replacement parts during reassembly to ensure structural integrity. Compliance with these directives is critical, as the initial inspection must be conducted before the helicopter accumulates 110 hours of service time post-manufacture, followed by inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time. The regulation underscores the importance of regular and meticulous inspection to maintain the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislative instrument, specifically the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105), pertain to Airworthiness Directives for the Robinson R22 Series Helicopters. The directive AD/R22/2 focuses on the inspection of the tailcone support structure to prevent loss of the tailcone due to potential fractures in the supporting framework tube or tube welds (section 2.1). This directive mandates inspections using a dye penetrant technique in specific areas identified as Items 1 to 4 of the figure in Robinson SB No. B-4. Additionally, it specifies the use of new parts during reassembly of the tailcone assembly, such as NAS-679-A4 nuts, NAS-1304-22 bolts, NAS-1304-3 bolts, and Pal Nuts (section 2.2). The directive references FAA AD 80-24-01 Amdt. 39-3975 for further guidance. The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this Act include conducting an initial inspection before the helicopter achieves 110 hours of time in service after manufacture and subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The inspections must be performed using the specified dye penetrant technique in designated areas to ensure the integrity of the tailcone support structure. Furthermore, when reassembling the tailcone assembly, the directive requires the use of specific new parts, as detailed in the legislative instrument, to maintain the structural integrity of the tailcone. In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline potential civil and criminal penalties for breaches of airworthiness directives. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the legislative instrument itself, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions, including fines and potential criminal charges for operators who fail to adhere to these safety requirements. The severity of penalties may depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant safety risks or incidents. It is important for operators to ensure strict adherence to these directives to avoid legal repercussions and to maintain the safety standards required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.