COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Robinson R44 Series Helicopters
AD/R44/1 Cooling Fan 1/95 DM
Applicability: All R44 helicopters S/N 0006 through to 0122 not fitted with P/N D174-1 fanwheel at Rev G or later status.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Robinson R44 Service Bulletin No 2. Compliance: Within 10 hours time in service from 25 November 1994.
Thereafter, reinspect at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service until Fanwheel P/N D174-1 at Rev G or later status has been fitted.
Background: Robinson has advised that cracks have been found on the forward face of the cooling fanwheel. This directive is being raised to ensure fanwheel integrity is maintained until a redesigned fanwheel can be installed.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of aviation operations in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations includes Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that address issues pertaining to the continued airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive, AD/R44/1, pertains to Robinson R44 Series Helicopters, addressing the issue of cracks found on the forward face of the cooling fanwheel. This directive mandates action in accordance with Robinson R44 Service Bulletin No 2, requiring compliance within 10 hours of service from 25 November 1994 and subsequent reinspections at intervals not exceeding 25 hours until the installation of a redesigned fanwheel, part number D174-1 at revision G or later status. The policy objective is to maintain fanwheel integrity and ensure continued safety of the aircraft in operation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, focusing on ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft operations. One such directive, AD/R44/1, applies to Robinson R44 Series Helicopters with serial numbers ranging from 0006 to 0122 that have not been equipped with a P/N D174-1 fanwheel at revision G or later. This regulation is designed to address an issue where cracks have been identified on the forward face of the cooling fanwheel, thereby necessitating action to maintain the integrity of the fanwheel until a redesigned version can be installed. The requirement is to follow the instructions detailed in Robinson R44 Service Bulletin No 2, with compliance mandated within 10 hours of time in service from 25 November 1994, and subsequent reinspections to be conducted at intervals not exceeding 25 hours until the specified fanwheel revision is installed. The scope of this directive is national, impacting all relevant helicopters within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, includes specific directives related to the airworthiness of certain aircraft, such as the Robinson R44 Series Helicopters. In this context, AD/R44/1 (section 1) pertains to the cooling fan of the R44 helicopters. It applies to all R44 helicopters with serial numbers ranging from 0006 to 0122 that are not equipped with the P/N D174-1 fanwheel at revision G or later status. The directive requires compliance with Robinson R44 Service Bulletin No 2, which must be completed within 10 hours of time in service from 25 November 1994. Following this initial action, the helicopters must be reinspected at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service until the appropriate fanwheel is installed.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and specific. Operators of the affected R44 helicopters must ensure that the required actions are taken according to the service bulletin. This involves inspecting the cooling fan and, if necessary, implementing the recommended modifications or replacements. Additionally, ongoing inspections must be conducted at the specified intervals to maintain compliance until the redesign of the fanwheel is fully implemented. The directive underscores the importance of timely and regular inspections to prevent potential issues related to the cooling fan, thereby ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the helicopter.
Breaching the requirements outlined in this directive can lead to serious consequences. Failure to comply with the specified actions and reinspection intervals may result in the helicopter being deemed non-airworthy. This could lead to grounding of the aircraft, preventing it from being operated until the necessary corrective actions are taken. In more severe cases, regulatory bodies such as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose fines, penalties, or other enforcement actions against the operators who fail to adhere to the directive. These measures are in place to ensure that all parties maintain the highest standards of safety and compliance in the operation of these helicopters.