COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bell UH-1 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/UH-1/5 Amdt 1 and issues the following 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 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/UH-1/5
Amdt 2
Tailboom Vertical Fin Spar 1/2001 TX
Applicability: All UH1 Series, and UH1 derivatives with the USA FAA Type Certificate Data sheets (TCDS) listed in the Requirement document.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 99-25-12 Amdt 39-11455.
Note: Replacement of the vertical fin spar in accordance with the Requirement document constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this Directive.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document with a revised effective date of 20 November 2000.
This Amendment becomes effective on 20 November 2000.
Background: Following accident investigations, the FAA determined that a large number of high power events can cause fatigue cracking which will result in failure of the vertical fin spar, which in turn will result in loss of control of the helicopter.
Amendment 1 was raised following an administrative error, and superseded AD/UH1/3 which was cancelled.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a superseding FAA AD which requires the same modification and inspections as the previous AD, and additionally, a further two inspections and replacement of the vertical fin spar. This further FAA action was prompted by reports of six accidents, two of which involved fatalities, and involved fatigue cracks in the vertical fin spar that have occurred since the issue of AD
97-20-09.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Amendment 1 of this Directive became effective on 24 February 2000. The initial issue of this Directive became effective on 31 December 1999.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 November 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 20 November 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include a series of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that are crucial for ensuring the safety of aircraft operations in Australia. One such AD is AD/UH-1/5 Amdt 2, which was introduced to address a critical safety issue identified with the Bell UH-1 Series Helicopters, specifically concerning the vertical fin spar. This AD was enacted to rectify an unsafe condition that could lead to the failure of the vertical fin spar due to fatigue cracking, potentially resulting in loss of control of the helicopter. The policy objective of this AD is to mandate specific actions to prevent such failures, thereby enhancing the overall safety of these aircraft. This amendment was issued following extensive investigations and reports of accidents, including fatalities, which highlighted the urgent need for corrective measures.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/UH-1/5 Amdt 2 issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies to all UH-1 Series helicopters and their derivatives, as identified by their USA Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS). This directive mandates specific actions to rectify unsafe conditions related to the vertical fin spar of these aircraft, ensuring they meet the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 99-25-12 Amdt 39-11455. The compliance with this directive is to be achieved according to the instructions and timeframe specified in the requirement document, with a revised effective date of 20 November 2000. This directive supersedes previous ADs, including AD/UH1/3, which was cancelled due to an administrative error, and it incorporates further inspections and the replacement of the vertical fin spar as prompted by subsequent FAA actions following reported accidents and fatalities. The geographic reach of this AD is national, as it applies to aircraft registered and operated within Australia, ensuring adherence to civil aviation safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/UH-1/5 Amdt 2, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies to all UH1 Series and UH1 derivatives with USA Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) as specified in the Requirement document (paragraph 1). The primary purpose of this directive is to address the issue of fatigue cracking in the vertical fin spar of these helicopters, which has been linked to a loss of control. The directive mandates that the action outlined in the requirement section must be taken, specifically in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 99-25-12 Amdt 39-11455 (paragraph 2). It also stipulates that compliance with these requirements must be achieved as specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 20 November 2000 (paragraph 3).
This directive imposes several obligations on the operators and owners of the affected helicopters. Primarily, it requires them to ensure that the modifications and inspections specified in the FAA AD are carried out. This includes the replacement of the vertical fin spar, and additional inspections as detailed in the Requirement document. The directive mandates that these actions be taken to correct the unsafe condition identified, and it must be done in accordance with the specified instructions (paragraph 2). The operators and owners are also required to ensure that the compliance section is adhered to, meaning the actions must be completed by the specified date to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (paragraph 3).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in civil or criminal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with an AD can lead to severe penalties. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions against the operators and owners of the non-compliant aircraft. This could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory actions. The specific penalties are not detailed in the text but are governed by the broader provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations. The directive highlights the serious nature of the issue, with reports of accidents and fatalities linked to the failure of the vertical fin spar, indicating the critical importance of compliance to ensure aviation safety.