COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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 or aeronautical product 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/S-76/63 Main Rotor Blade Root and Pocket Separation 7/2000

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Applicability: All models S76 with main rotor blades not repaired in accordance with Overhaul and Repair Instruction (ORI) No. 76150-023 Revision A dated 26 May 2000.

Requirement: Action in accordance with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. ASB No. 76-65-50 dated 25 May 2000.

Note: FAA Emergency AD 2000-11-52 refers.

Compliance: Before further flight after the effective date of this directive.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 1 June 2000.

Background:  This directive is issued due to a report of a 20 inch crack in the root end pocket of a main rotor blade and three reports of root end pocket separation of 4 to 6 foot sections of main rotor blade during flight. These unsafe conditions are attributed to improper manufacture of certain main rotor blade skins.

Bernard Malcolm Hole

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 30 May 2000

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 1 June 2000.