COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Robinson R22 Series Helicopters
AD/R22/37
Amdt 2
Forward Flexplate 9/98 DM
Applicability: All R22 series helicopters fitted with flexplates P/N A193-1 or A947-1 Rev A thru D.
Requirement: Replace all flexplates P/N A193-1 or A947-1 Rev A thru D with a flexplate P/N A947-1 E or F in accordance with Robinson R22 Service Bulletin SB75.
Note: FAA Priority Letter AD 98-14-08 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, within 25 Hours TIS from issue of this directive or by 31 July 1998, whichever occurs first.
This amendment becomes effective on 8 July 1998.
Background: In 1993 the Australian CAA received advice that two flexplates located in the forward position of the tail rotor drive shaft had failed. In 1994 the NZ Airworthiness Authorities advised that a similar flexplate failure had recently occurred there. One flexplate had taken approximately 300 flights from the corrosion pit initiation until the final failure. The FAA and the manufacturer were advised with the FAA subsequently issuing AD 94-11-01. In May 1998 an aircraft crashed in NZ due to a flexplate failure. This aircraft had the pre A947-1 Revision E flexplate fitted. FAA has subsequently determined that repetitive inspections are insufficient to ensure airworthiness. This amendment provides closing action by requiring replacement of faulty flexplates.
Amendment 1 to this airworthiness directive became effective on 14 December 1994. The original issue of this airworthiness directive became effective on 15 June 1994.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) were enacted to provide for the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. The regulation addresses safety concerns by establishing a framework for the certification and maintenance of aircraft, including issuing airworthiness directives to ensure that aircraft are maintained in a safe condition. This legislative instrument, specifically PART 39 - 105, focuses on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s schedule of airworthiness directives for the Robinson R22 Series Helicopters. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate risks associated with the failure of specific components, such as the flexplates in the R22 series helicopters, by mandating their replacement to enhance overall aviation safety. This directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority following reports of flexplate failures, and it requires all affected helicopters to replace the specified flexplates within a stipulated timeframe to prevent potential accidents and ensure compliance with safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically address the Robinson R22 Series Helicopters, with Amendment 2 to Airworthiness Directive AD/R22/37 mandating the replacement of certain flexplates. This directive applies to all R22 series helicopters equipped with flexplates identified by parts numbers A193-1 or A947-1 Rev A through D. The requirement is to replace these flexplates with those identified by parts numbers A947-1 E or F, in line with Robinson R22 Service Bulletin SB75. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 25 hours of total in-service time from the issuance of the directive or by 31 July 1998, whichever occurs first. The amendment became effective on 8 July 1998, following incidents where flexplate failures led to significant safety concerns, including a fatal crash in New Zealand. The directive ensures that all affected helicopters meet specific safety standards by mandating the replacement of faulty components to prevent future failures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, contains an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Robinson R22 Series Helicopters, identified as AD/R22/37 Amendment 2, concerning the Forward Flexplate. This directive applies to all R22 series helicopters equipped with flexplates P/N A193-1 or A947-1 Rev A through D. The key requirement outlined in this directive is that these specific flexplates must be replaced with a flexplate P/N A947-1 E or F, in accordance with Robinson R22 Service Bulletin SB75. This requirement is supported by FAA Priority Letter AD 98-14-08, indicating a coordinated safety response by multiple aviation authorities. Compliance with this directive must be achieved either within 25 Total Indication System (TIS) hours from the issuance of this directive or by 31 July 1998, whichever comes first.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and stringent. Operators and owners of the specified Robinson R22 series helicopters must ensure that the identified flexplates are replaced as mandated, following the specified procedures and within the given timeframe. This requirement underscores the importance of maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and preventing potential catastrophic failures that could arise from flexplate corrosion and subsequent breakage. Additionally, operators must maintain records of compliance with this directive, demonstrating that the required replacement has been completed and verified.
Breach of the obligations set out in this airworthiness directive can result in serious consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the legislative text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives typically results in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, enforcement notices, or even the grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The severity of the penalty often depends on the level of non-compliance and the risk posed to aviation safety. Ensuring adherence to these directives is critical, as the consequences of flexplate failure, as evidenced by past incidents, can be severe, potentially leading to loss of life and significant damage to property.