COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Robinson R22 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/R22/30 Amdt 4 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/R22/30
Amdt 5
Applicability: All R22 helicopters.
Main Rotor Spindle 1/2002
Requirement: 1. Action in accordance with the Compliance Procedures of Robinson Service Bulletin (SB) No. 60A.
2. Visually inspect the reworked spindles and A106 Rev 0 or subsequent journals installed in accordance with Requirement 1, for cracks.
Note 1: This directive applies to all R22 helicopters regardless of serial number. The US FAA has determined that all R22 helicopters could be affected, not just those identified in the Requirement Document.
Note 2: FAA AD 88-26-01 R2 Amdt 39-6646 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before 28 April 1989.
2. Within 500 hours time in service after 23 March 2000, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time in service.
This amendment becomes effective on 24 January 2002.
Background: A crack was found in a main rotor spindle after a balance check of the main rotor could not be achieved. Upon rotor blade removal, a crack was found running from the spindle bolt hole to the spindle upper surface. Failure to detect the crack would have resulted in blade separation. Amendment 3 corrected the related FAA AD reference.
Amendment 5 is issued to clarify applicability of the Airworthiness Directive. The related FAA AD applies to all R22 Helicopters, not just those identified by serial number in Robinson SB 60A.
Amendment 4 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 March 2000, and was issued to correct an anomaly in the repetitive inspection requirement.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AD/R22/30 Amdt 5 (continued)
Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 21 March 1991.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 10 November 1988.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 4 December 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 9 January 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australian airspace. In response to specific safety concerns identified with the Robinson R22 Series Helicopters, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to address potential unsafe conditions. AD/R22/30 Amdt 5, which became effective on 24 January 2002, specifically targets all R22 helicopters to ensure they comply with necessary safety measures. The primary objective of this directive is to mandate the inspection and corrective actions to mitigate risks associated with potential cracks in the main rotor spindle, ensuring continued safe operation of these aircraft. This legislative instrument reflects the commitment of CASA to proactively manage aviation safety risks through detailed regulatory oversight and enforcement.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, PART 39 - 105, issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. Specifically, AD/R22/30 Amdt 5 applies to all Robinson R22 Series Helicopters, irrespective of their serial number, and mandates corrective actions to address an unsafe condition identified in the main rotor spindle. The directive requires inspections and repairs as outlined in Robinson Service Bulletin (SB) No. 60A and subsequent visual inspections for cracks in reworked spindles and journals. This AD applies to all R22 helicopters regardless of when they were manufactured, as determined by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and not limited to those specified in the requirement document. The directive stipulates compliance before 28 April 1989 and mandates inspections within 500 hours of time in service after 23 March 2000, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service. This amendment clarifies that the AD applies to all R22 helicopters, aligning with the related FAA AD, and was made effective on 24 January 2002.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) (AD/R22/30 Amdt 5) mandate that all Robinson R22 Series helicopters must adhere to specific actions to ensure safety, as outlined in the requirements section. Specifically, the directive requires that Robinson Service Bulletin (SB) No. 60A Compliance Procedures be followed and that the main rotor spindles and A106 Rev 0 or subsequent journals be visually inspected for cracks after rework. This directive applies to all R22 helicopters, irrespective of their serial number, as determined by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is important to note that this directive supersedes AD/R22/30 Amdt 4 and has been amended to clarify its applicability.
The AD imposes obligations on the owners and operators of R22 helicopters to ensure that the mandated actions are carried out. Owners and operators must ensure that the main rotor spindles and journals are inspected for cracks in accordance with the procedures set out in Robinson SB No. 60A. The inspections must be performed before 28 April 1989 and then at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service after 23 March 2000. Failure to comply with these requirements could potentially lead to unsafe conditions and, therefore, to non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.
The AD does not explicitly state specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach of its provisions. However, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives is generally treated as a serious matter under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Non-compliance may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which could include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if the breach leads to an accident or incident. The penalties for such breaches can be significant, both in terms of financial penalties and the operational impact on the aircraft and its operators.