COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters
AD/S-76/48 Main Gearbox Lower Housing Jet Port Liners 13/87
DM
Applicability: All model S-76A and S-76B helicopters fitted with a main gearbox with S/No as listed in Table 1 of the Requirement document.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No 76-66-11. Compliance: Within 50 hours time in service after 15 October 1987, inspect in accordance with
Section 2 of the Requirement document.
Background: A gearbox returned for overhaul due to lower than normal oil pressure was found to have a liner which had moved in one of the oil pressure jet ports. The gearboxes listed in Table 1 of the SB require inspection to ensure all magnesium liners are correctly pinned in place.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B06727, address the critical issue of ensuring the airworthiness of Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters. Specifically, this legislation targets the maintenance and safety of the main gearbox lower housing jet port liners in model S-76A and S-76B helicopters. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, the policy objective of this directive is to enhance flight safety by preventing potential failures related to the gearbox oil pressure jet ports. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, through this Airworthiness Directive, mandates inspections and corrective actions as specified in Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No 76-66-11, to be completed within 50 hours of time in service after 15 October 1987, ensuring that all magnesium liners are correctly pinned and thereby averting any operational risks.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as applied through Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically mandate compliance for all Sikorsky S-76A and S-76B helicopters that are fitted with a main gearbox bearing the serial numbers listed in Table 1 of the Requirement document. This legislation targets the aircraft themselves and the relevant operators within the aviation industry, imposing strict requirements on the maintenance and inspection of the main gearbox lower housing jet port liners. The directive mandates that any action must be in accordance with Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No 76-66-11, which requires a thorough inspection within 50 hours of time in service after 15 October 1987, as detailed in Section 2 of the Requirement document. The legislation applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that the safety directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority are uniformly enforced nationwide. No specific exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are mentioned in the directive, indicating that all specified helicopters must comply with the inspection requirements. The scope of the directive is limited to the identified model and serial numbers of the Sikorsky S-76 series helicopters, and the requirement is intended to rectify issues identified in the main gearbox to prevent potential safety hazards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, Section 105, includes a specific Airworthiness Directive (AD/S-76/48) concerning Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters. This directive applies to all S-76A and S-76B models equipped with a main gearbox, whose serial numbers are listed in Table 1 of the accompanying requirement document. The directive mandates adherence to the instructions outlined in Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No 76-66-11, which outlines the necessary inspection procedures to ensure the integrity of the main gearbox lower housing jet port liners. Specifically, the requirement is for an inspection to be carried out within 50 hours of the helicopter's time in service after 15 October 1987, in accordance with Section 2 of the requirement document. This inspection is crucial as a gearbox previously returned for overhaul due to lower than normal oil pressure was found to have a liner that had shifted in one of the oil pressure jet ports.
The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties or entities it governs are clear and specific. Operators of Sikorsky S-76A and S-76B helicopters with the specified main gearbox serial numbers must conduct the required inspections as stipulated by the Alert Service Bulletin. The directive demands that these inspections be performed meticulously to ensure that all magnesium liners in the gearboxes are securely pinned in place. The requirement to inspect within the specified timeframe ensures that potential issues are identified and rectified promptly, thereby maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. Non-compliance with this directive could result in significant safety risks, including the potential for further damage to the gearbox or even in-flight failures, which could have dire consequences.
Breaching the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive can lead to serious consequences, both civil and criminal. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance with these regulations, and failure to adhere to the stipulated inspection requirements may result in enforcement actions. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, operators found in breach of an Airworthiness Directive can face significant penalties, including fines and potential grounding of the affected aircraft. The seriousness of these penalties underscores the importance of strict compliance with the requirements outlined in the directive to ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters. In extreme cases, persistent non-compliance or severe safety breaches could lead to criminal charges, with penalties including imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of the potential impact on aviation safety.