AD/S-PUMA/16 - Tail Position Lights

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. One such regulation, F2006B07094, was enacted to manage airworthiness directives related to Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters. This directive was introduced to address the issue of damage caused to tail rotor blades due to the loss of tail position light lens assemblies during flight. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the regulating body, issued this directive to enhance safety by requiring the installation of safety locking devices on the tail position light lens assembly. The directive mandates that all AS 332 C, C1, L, L1, and L2 helicopters equipped with specific tail position light parts must comply with the directive to prevent in-flight loss of these components. Compliance with this directive ensures that the helicopters meet the necessary safety standards and reduces the risk of in-flight accidents.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Airworthiness Directive AD/S-PUMA/16 applies to all AS 332 C, C1, L, L1, and L2 helicopters equipped with tail position lights part numbers 31514-2 and 31515-2. This requirement mandates the installation of safety locking devices on the tail position light lens assembly as per Eurocopter France AS 332 Service Bulletin 01-39 to prevent in-flight loss of the lens assembly, which has previously caused damage to tail rotor blades. Compliance with this directive involves helicopter installations within 50 hours of time in service from 19 October 1994, and for spares, the locking devices must be installed prior to installation. This regulation is applicable on a national level under the Commonwealth of Australia and is intended to ensure safety and compliance with aviation standards. The directive references DGAC AD 94-216-002(B) and 94-217-053(B) for further guidance, and it is enforced through the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, outline the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters (Section 13/94). This directive, AD/S-PUMA/16, concerns the tail position lights of certain AS 332 models, namely the C, C1, L, L1, and L2 variants equipped with tail position light parts numbered 31514-2 and 31515-2. The primary requirement (Section 1) is the installation of safety locking devices on the tail position light lens assembly as specified in Eurocopter France AS 332 Service Bulletin 01-39, to prevent the in-flight loss of the lens assembly, which has been linked to damage to tail rotor blades. The directive imposes specific obligations on operators and maintainers of these helicopters. Helicopters must install the safety locking devices on the tail position light lens assembly within 50 hours of time in service from the date of the directive, which is 19 October 1994 (Section 2). Additionally, any spare parts that are to be used for such installations must also comply with the directive prior to being installed (Section 3). This ensures that both operational helicopters and spare parts meet the necessary safety standards. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in serious safety issues and potential regulatory consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties in the provided text, but non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. These actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. The seriousness of the issue, which involves potential in-flight hazards, underscores the importance of strict adherence to these directives to ensure the safety of flight operations.