COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Eurocopter AS 355 (Twin Ecureuil) Series Helicopters AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 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 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 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. AD/AS 355/53 Ferry Fuel Tanks 9/2000 DM Applicability: AS 355 E, F, F1 F2 and N helicopters, metal ferry fuel tanks, part number 330A 871310.00, .01, .02, .03 and .04. Requirement: 1. For installed metal ferry fuel tanks - Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.10 dated 6 June 2000. 2. For metal ferry fuel tanks that are not installed - Electrically bond the fuel tanks in accordance with paragraph C.C of Eurocopter Service Telex No 28.00.10 dated 6 June 2000. Note: DGAC AD 2000-302(A). Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Before the next refuelling of the ferry fuel tank after the effective date of this Directive. For Resquirement 2 - Before installation of the ferry fuel tank. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 26 July 2000. Background: The French Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile has advised that an electrostatic ground connector on several ferry fuel tanks was not electrically bonded to its support. During refuelling of a tank, the absence of this electrical bonding could generate an electrical arc between the refuelling nozzle of the tanker and the fuel tank causing the fuel tank to explode. Eugene Paul Holzapfel Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 July 2000 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 July 2000.