Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the need to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australia by establishing requirements for maintaining airworthiness. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), this regulation aims to prevent unsafe conditions that could compromise the safety of aircraft and their occupants. This legislative instrument is designed to respond swiftly to identified safety issues, ensuring that corrective actions are mandated and enforced. In this instance, the Airworthiness Directive AD/S-PUMA/49 issued under the authority of CASA, addresses a specific safety concern regarding the pilot cyclic stick stops on Eurocopter AS 332 helicopters. The directive was issued in response to an incident involving restricted movement of the pilot cyclic stick during flight, prompting immediate actions to rectify the issue and prevent recurrence. The policy objective is to enhance flight safety by mandating precise corrective measures, thereby mitigating potential risks associated with the identified unsafe condition.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. The scope of this particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/S-PUMA/49) is targeted at specific models of the Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) Series helicopters, namely versions C, C1, L, and L1. These helicopters must be equipped with pilot cyclic stick stop supports part number 332A27 2141 00 or 332A27 2141 01 and must not have been modified in accordance with MOD 0726297. The directive applies to all such aircraft registered within the Commonwealth of Australia and mandates specific corrective actions to address the identified unsafe condition of restricted pilot cyclic stick movement during flight, particularly during right-hand turns. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with actions required within specified timeframes post the directive's issuance date of 4 June 2003. The directive does not apply to aircraft that have already been modified to address the issue, as outlined in the requirement section.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) Part 39 - 105, specifically the Airworthiness Directive AD/S-PUMA/49, address the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Eurocopter AS 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters. The directive mandates that specific actions be taken to correct an identified unsafe condition (section 7). It applies to AS332 helicopters, versions C, C1, L, and L1, not modified in accordance with MOD 0726297, and equipped with particular pilot cyclic stick stop supports (section 6). The requirements include following detailed instructions from Eurocopter AS 332 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 67.00.27, specifically paragraphs 2.B.2.a and 2.B.2.b, and ensuring any spare pilot cyclic stick stop supports are also addressed according to paragraphs 2.B.2.b and 2.C of the bulletin (section 7). The obligations imposed by this directive on the relevant parties include adhering to the specified timeline for compliance. Operators of the affected helicopters must ensure the actions outlined in the directive are completed within 50 flight hours after 4 June 2003 or by 4 December 2003, whichever comes first (section 9). This involves inspecting and potentially modifying the pilot cyclic stick stop supports to prevent restricted movement during flight, as identified by the report of an in-flight incident on 4 June 2003 (section 6). Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the directive itself, non-compliance with such directives generally could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These may include administrative penalties, operational restrictions, or more severe actions depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which empowers CASA to enforce compliance to ensure the highest standards of aviation safety are met.