Commonwealth legislation

AD/ECUREUIL/79 Amdt 1 - 'TRW-SAMM' Main Servocontrols

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Commonwealth

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legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

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This Airworthiness Directive requires removal and return of certain 'TRW‑SAMM' main servocontrols (P/N SC 8042 or SC 8043) that were last overhauled or repaired at Hawker Pacific Aerospace (USA) before 1 March 2002, for inspection of thread condition and correct torque per Eurocopter Alert Telex. It sets staged deadlines based on hours since overhaul and aircraft type, including immediate grounding for some AS350 B3 units. CASA says the action responds to incorrect torque that can cause thread failure and loss of control; owners/operators bear removal, shipment and repair costs and must meet the hour‑based deadlines.

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AD/ECUREUIL/79 Amdt 1 - 'TRW-SAMM' Main Servocontrols

View image in the official source

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AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/79 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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.

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Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/ECUREUIL/79

Amdt 1

'TRW-SAMM' Main Servocontrols 8/2003

Applicability: AS 350 B3 and EC 130 B4 helicopters with “TRW-SAMM’ main servocontrols Part Number (P/N) SC 8042 or SC 8043 which underwent their last overhaul or repair since overhaul at “HAWKER PACIFIC AEROSPACE’, USA before March 1 2002.

Requirement: Remove the servocontrols and return them to “HAWKER PACIFIC AEROSPACE”, USA for a check of the thread condition and application torque as required in Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Telex No. 67.00.23 or Eurocopter EC 130 Alert Telex No. 67A001 as applicable.

Note: DGAC AD’s 2002-314-092(A) and 2002-316-004(A) refer.

Compliance: 1. For servocontrols held as spares; prior to fitment to an aircraft.

2. For servocontrols that have been in service for less than 1000 flight ho urs since overhaul; within 550 flight hours or 3 October 2003, whichever comes first.
3. For servocontrols that have been in service between 1000 and 1300 flight hours since overhaul; prior to 1550 flight hours or 3 July 2003, whichever comes first.
4. For servocontrols:

Fitted to AS350 B3 helicopters that have been in service for more than 1300 flight hours since overhaul; before further flight.
Fitted to EC 130 B4 helicopters that have been in service for more than 1300 flight hours since overhaul; within 50 flight hours from the effective date of this Directive.

This Amendment becomes effective on 7 August 2003.

Background: An incorrect torque loading was found applied to the end fitting that attaches the servocontrol cylinder to the upper ball end fitting. The incorrect torque may lead to failure of the threads on the fitting, leading to separation of the upper-end fitting and result in loss of control of the helicopter.

Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/ECUREUIL/79 Amdt 1 (continued)

This amendment adds the EC 130 B4 helicopter to the list of applicable aircraft affected by this Directive.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 October 2002.

Signature of James Coyne, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Jim Coyne

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 26 June 2003

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The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 AD/ECUREUIL/79 Amdt 1 - 'TRW-SAMM' Main Servocontrols

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/ECUREUIL/79

Amdt 1

'TRW-SAMM' Main Servocontrols 8/2003

Note: DGAC AD’s 2002-314-092(A) and 2002-316-004(A) refer.

Compliance: 1. For servocontrols held as spares; prior to fitment to an aircraft.

2. For servocontrols that have been in service for less than 1000 flight ho urs since overhaul; within 550 flight hours or 3 October 2003, whichever comes first.
3. For servocontrols that have been in service between 1000 and 1300 flight hours since overhaul; prior to 1550 flight hours or 3 July 2003, whichever comes first.
4. For servocontrols:

Fitted to AS350 B3 helicopters that have been in service for more than 1300 flight hours since overhaul; before further flight.
Fitted to EC 130 B4 helicopters that have been in service for more than 1300 flight hours since overhaul; within 50 flight hours from the effective date of this Directive.

This Amendment becomes effective on 7 August 2003.