Commonwealth legislation

AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amdt 1 - Starflex Star to Main Rotor Shaft Securing Bolts

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

2/10 complexity

What this does: This is a mandatory safety inspection rule for certain helicopters. It requires operators of Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) helicopters to inspect critical bolts that hold the main rotor to the shaft.

Why it matters: Loose bolts on the "Starflex star" (a component connecting the rotor blades to the main shaft) can cause fretting corrosion (wear damage from rubbing) and cracking. If these bolts fail, the rotor could detach in flight.

What must be done:

High-time aircraft (590+ flight hours): Inspect within 10 hours after 30 October 1980
Mid-time aircraft (300 flight hours): Inspect when reaching 600 total flight hours
All aircraft: Repeat the inspection every 400 flight hours thereafter

Who it affects: Anyone operating AS 350 model helicopters in Australia.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amdt 1 - Starflex Star to Main Rotor Shaft Securing Bolts.

AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amdt 1 - Starflex Star to Main Rotor Shaft Securing Bolts

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/ECUREUIL/8

Amdt 1

Starflex Star to Main Rotor Shaft Securing Bolts

3/88

Applicability: All model AS 350 helicopters.

Requirement: Action in accordance with Aerospatiale AS 350 SB No 05.04 Revision 1.

Note: Bureau Veritas Directive 80-184-015(B) R1 refers.

Compliance: 1. For aircraft which have achieved 590 hours time in service - within 10 hours time in service after 30 October 1980.

2. For aircraft which have achieved 300 hours time in service \- upon achieving 600 hours time in service.

3. For all aircraft \- at each subsequent 400 hours time in service after initial inspection in accordance with 1 and 2.

Background: Several cases of fretting corrosion, which can cause cracking, have resulted from loose Starflex star to main rotor shaft securing bolts. The 300 hourly repetitive inspection period has been extended to 400 hours by the manufacturer.

Source text

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

1 AD/ECUREUIL/8 Amdt 1 - Starflex Star to Main Rotor Shaft Securing Bolts