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-76/66 Main Landing Gear Positioning Rod Assembly 3/2001
DM
Applicability: All Model S-76A, S-76B and S-76C helicopters up to and including serial number 760513 with positioning rod assembly part number 1945E-31A or 2071-31, or side brace rod end part number 1945E-235 or 2071-235, installed.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end for corrosion in accordance with Section 2, Accomplishment Instructions, in BFGoodrich Service Bulletin (SB) No.76A-32-03, Revision 1, dated 15 September 2000. Replace any part that is corroded with a serviceable part before further flight.
2. If the positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end were inspected and re- assembled in accordance with BFGoodrich Component Maintenance Manual with Illustrated Parts List, 1945/2071 Series Main Landing Gear, No. 32-10-01, Revision 4, dated 15 December 1994, within the past 24 months, inspect the positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end in accordance with Section 2 of SB 76A-32-03 Revision 1. Replace any part that is corroded with a serviceable part before further flight.
3. For side brace rod ends that are not re-assembled with Mastinox sealant or re- assembled with Mastinox sealant but without cadmium plate restoration; inspect the positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end for corrosion in accordance with Section 2 of SB 76A-32-03 Revision 1. Replace any part that is corroded with a serviceable part before further flight.
4. For side brace rod ends assembled with Mastinox sealant and cadmium plate restoration or for side brace rod ends re-assembled with Mastinox but that did not previously require rework due to corrosion, inspect the positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end for corrosion in accordance with Section 2 of SB 76A-32- 03 Revision 1. Replace any corroded part with a serviceable part before further flight.
Note: FAA AD 2001-01-04 Amendment 39-12074 refers.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Compliance: 1. Before 28 February 2001.
2. Before 14 May 2001.
3. At intervals not to exceed 3 months.
4. At intervals not to exceed 12 months or 1,500 hours time in service, whichever occurs first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 14 February 2001.
Background: The FAA received a report of a landing gear collapse cause by corrosion due to dissimilar metals in the landing gear rod end. The actions specified by this Directive is intended to detect corrosion of the threaded joint in the rod assembly to prevent a collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter during landing.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 February 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, form a comprehensive framework designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation. One of the key components of these regulations is Part 39 - 105, which addresses airworthiness directives. This part was introduced to address potential safety hazards and ensure the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the relevant body responsible for issuing these directives. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance the safety standards of civil aviation by issuing mandatory directives when necessary, as exemplified by Airworthiness Directive AD/S-76/66 for Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters. This specific directive was issued in response to reports of landing gear failures due to corrosion, aiming to prevent unsafe conditions and ensure the continued safe operation of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters up to and including serial number 760513, with specific positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end part numbers installed. This legislation is applicable at the national level and pertains to the maintenance and inspection of critical components of certain Sikorsky S-76 Series Helicopters to ensure their airworthiness. The directive requires specific inspections and replacements to address corrosion issues that could potentially lead to landing gear failure. The scope of the directive includes mandatory inspections and necessary repairs to be conducted by authorised personnel, with specific timeframes provided for compliance. This AD extends its application through subordinate instructions detailed in the referenced service bulletins and maintenance manuals. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the directive itself, although compliance is contingent on adherence to the detailed instructions provided in the referenced documentation.
Key Provisions
This Civil Aviation Regulation establishes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for specific Sikorsky S-76 series helicopters, addressing the issue of corrosion in the main landing gear positioning rod assembly. The AD, issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, mandates certain actions to be taken to ensure the safety of these aircraft. The AD applies to all Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters with specified serial numbers and part numbers (AD/S-76/66). The directive requires inspections and replacements of corroded parts to prevent potential landing gear failures due to corrosion. These inspections must be conducted in accordance with detailed instructions provided in relevant service bulletins and maintenance manuals. The requirement section of the AD stipulates that inspections and replacements must be performed before further flights, with specific timeframes and intervals for these actions. These include inspecting the positioning rod assembly and side brace rod end before 28 February 2001, before 14 May 2001, at intervals not to exceed three months, and at intervals not to exceed 12 months or 1,500 hours of time in service, whichever occurs first. The AD imposes several obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected helicopters. These include conducting the specified inspections in accordance with detailed instructions provided in the referenced service bulletins and maintenance manuals. Operators and maintainers must replace any corroded parts with serviceable parts before further flights. Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to grounding of the aircraft until the specified actions are completed. While the AD does not explicitly detail specific penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with CASA directives generally may result in enforcement actions, including fines and potential criminal charges, depending on the severity of the breach and the circumstances involved.