Commonwealth legislation

AD/R44/20 - Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail Rotor Bolts

In ForceCTH

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

3/10 complexity

This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Robinson R44 and R44 II helicopters to check specific NAS6605-31 bolts (or specified serial‑number aircraft) for a vendor mark 01DO, visually inspect for fretting beneath the bolt head, torque each bolt to 10–15 ft‑lb to verify no rotation, and replace any affected bolts with serviceable bolts that are not marked 01DO. It matters because it forces operators to perform these inspections and bear any replacement costs where maintenance history or vendor identification indicates potential bolt problems.

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Direct links to the current provisions in AD/R44/20 - Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail Rotor Bolts.

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

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For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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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Robinson R44 Series Helicopters

AD/R44/20 Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail

AD/R44/20 Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail Rotor Bolts 1/2004

Applicability: Model R44 helicopters.

Requirement: 1. For all R44 and R44 II helicopters except those serial numbers specified in Requirement 2 of this Directive:

Determine if maintenance has been performed after 7 February 2003 on the areas specified in Figure 1 of this Directive, and determine if any bolt, part number NAS6605-31, shown on Figure 1 has been replaced for any reason.

b. If any bolt has been replaced, or if it is uncertain whether any bolt has been replaced after 7 February 2003, remove the paint from the bolt head to reveal the vendor identification marking. Determine if the bolt vendor identification is 01DO.

(i) If the vendor identification is 01DO, comply with Requirements 3 and 4.

2. The following R44 and R44 II helicopters must comply with Requirements 3 and 4 of this Directive:

Model R44 helicopters, serial numbers 0210, 0565, 0641, 0987 and 1312 through 1349, except 1345 and 1346; and

b. Model R44 II helicopters, serial numbers 10010, 10062, and 10083 through 10212, except 10092, 10173, 10204, 10207, 10210, and 10211.

3. For the helicopters affected by Requirements 1.b.(i) and 2. of this Directive, accomplish the following:

Visually inspect each bolt for fretting residue under the bolt head, which indicates a loose, potentially cracked bolt.

b. Apply 10-15 ft-lb (13-20 Nm) torque to each bolt head and verify no rotation. See Figure 1 of this Directive.

c. If residue or rotation of the bolt is found, replace each affected bolt with a serviceable bolt that does not have a vendor identification marking of 01DO.

Source text

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

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

Robinson R44 Series Helicopters

AD/R44/20 Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail AD/R44/20 Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail Rotor Bolts 1/2004

AD/R44/20 Main Rotor Swashplate and Tail Rotor Bolts 1/2004

Applicability: Model R44 helicopters.

Requirement: 1. For all R44 and R44 II helicopters except those serial numbers specified in Requirement 2 of this Directive:

Determine if maintenance has been performed after 7 February 2003 on the areas specified in Figure 1 of this Directive, and determine if any bolt, part number NAS6605-31, shown on Figure 1 has been replaced for any reason.

b. If any bolt has been replaced, or if it is uncertain whether any bolt has been replaced after 7 February 2003, remove the paint from the bolt head to reveal the vendor identification marking. Determine if the bolt vendor identification is 01DO.

(i) If the vendor identification is 01DO, comply with Requirements 3 and 4.

2. The following R44 and R44 II helicopters must comply with Requirements 3 and 4 of this Directive:

Model R44 helicopters, serial numbers 0210, 0565, 0641, 0987 and 1312 through 1349, except 1345 and 1346; and

b. Model R44 II helicopters, serial numbers 10010, 10062, and 10083 through 10212, except 10092, 10173, 10204, 10207, 10210, and 10211.

3. For the helicopters affected by Requirements 1.b.(i) and 2. of this Directive, accomplish the following:

Visually inspect each bolt for fretting residue under the bolt head, which indicates a loose, potentially cracked bolt.

b. Apply 10-15 ft-lb (13-20 Nm) torque to each bolt head and verify no rotation. See Figure 1 of this Directive.

c. If residue or rotation of the bolt is found, replace each affected bolt with a serviceable bolt that does not have a vendor identification marking of 01DO.