COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Robinson R44 Series Helicopters
AD/R44/7 Clutch Assembly 13/97
Applicability: All R44 helicopter S/N 0001 through to and including 0322 fitted with C018-1 clutch assembly.
Requirement: Replace C018-1 clutch assembly with a C018-2 or C018-2A clutch assembly as detailed in Robinson R44 SB 23 dated 30 May 1997.
Note: FAA AD 97-16-02 Amdt 39-10092 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously carried out within 50 hours time in service after the effective date of this directive or by 31 December 1997, whichever occurs first.
This airworthiness directive becomes effective on 4 December 1997.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that a number of sprag clutches assemblies were found worn excessively. This could result in loss of power to the rotor system, or should engine failure occur, an inability of the helicopter to autorotate in an emergency.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Australian Parliament, form a comprehensive legal framework to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Among the many regulations within this framework, Part 39 - 105 focuses on specific airworthiness directives, including AD/R44/7 concerning Robinson R44 Series Helicopters. This directive was introduced to address the problem of excessive wear in the C018-1 clutch assemblies of certain R44 helicopters, which could potentially lead to critical safety issues such as loss of power to the rotor system or inability to autorotate in an emergency. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters by mandating the replacement of the problematic clutch assemblies with improved versions, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic failures.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, issues these airworthiness directives to mandate compliance with specific safety standards. AD/R44/7 requires that all Robinson R44 helicopters with serial numbers from 0001 to 0322 and equipped with the C018-1 clutch assembly must replace it with a C018-2 or C018-2A clutch assembly. This directive became effective on 4 December 1997, with compliance required within 50 hours of service time after the directive's effective date or by 31 December 1997, whichever is earlier. This legislative measure underscores the commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation, ensuring that all aircraft meet necessary safety criteria to protect passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislative instrument mandates the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the continued safe operation of aircraft. AD/R44/7 pertains to the Robinson R44 Series Helicopters, particularly those with serial numbers ranging from 0001 to 0322 that are equipped with the C018-1 clutch assembly. The directive requires the replacement of the existing C018-1 clutch assembly with either a C018-2 or C018-2A clutch assembly as specified in Robinson R44 Service Bulletin 23 dated 30 May 1997, in order to mitigate risks of excessive wear leading to potential power loss or failure to autorotate during an emergency. Compliance with this directive must occur within 50 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date, which was 4 December 1997, or by 31 December 1997, whichever is later. This directive is a direct response to concerns raised by the manufacturer regarding the excessive wear of the sprag clutch assemblies, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandate certain requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Robinson R44 series helicopters (section 39 - 105). The regulation, AD/R44/7, focuses on the replacement of the C018-1 clutch assembly with either a C018-2 or C018-2A clutch assembly for specific serial numbers (0001 through 0322). This directive is grounded in the manufacturer's findings of excessive wear in the existing C018-1 clutch assembly, which could lead to critical operational failures such as loss of rotor power or inability to autorotate in emergencies (section 39 - 105). Compliance with this directive is essential and must occur within 50 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date or by 31 December 1997, whichever is sooner (section 39 - 105).
Operators of Robinson R44 series helicopters within the specified serial number range must ensure that the mandated replacement of the clutch assembly is carried out as per the details provided in Robinson R44 SB 23 dated 30 May 1997 (section 39 - 105). This involves meticulous adherence to the procedures outlined by the manufacturer to maintain the helicopter's airworthiness. The directive references FAA AD 97-16-02 Amdt 39-10092, indicating a coordinated effort between Australian and US aviation authorities to address this safety issue (section 39 - 105). Operators must keep thorough records of the compliance actions taken, including the dates of inspection and replacement.
Failure to comply with this airworthiness directive can lead to severe consequences. The primary concern is the potential for operational failure, which could result in accidents with serious or fatal outcomes. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, including fines and potential prosecution. The specific penalties are not detailed in the regulations but could include substantial financial penalties or other legal actions as deemed appropriate by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (section 39 - 105). CASA has the authority to take measures such as grounding the affected aircraft until the required maintenance is completed, ensuring that the directive is strictly followed to maintain safety standards in Australian aviation.