COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Robinson R44 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/R44/15 Sprag Clutch 7/2000 Applicability: Model R44 helicopters serial number 0001 through 0541 inclusive, 0543, 0550, 0556 and 0565. Requirement: 1. Examine sprag clutch for S/N applicability. Replace any sprag clutch with S/N 0003 through 0505 inclusive in accordance with the procedures detailed in Robinson R44 Service Bulletin SB-32 Part B paragraph 1 to 5 inclusive. Note 1: Robinson R44 SB-36 expands affected clutch S/N range to include S/Nos 0453 through 0505. 2. Remove the pink page Special Pilot Caution covering autorotation with a possible defective sprag clutch from the Normal Procedures Section of the R44 flight manual. Note 2: FAA AD 2000-08-04 Amendment 39-11690 and FAA AD 99-07-18 refers Compliance: 1. Unless previously carried out, within 30 calendar days or 50 hours time in service, whichever occurs first, from the effective date of this Directive. 2. Upon accomplishment of Requirement 1. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 13 July 2000. Background: Robinson Helicopter Co has advised that several sprag clutches, one from an accident aircraft, have been returned with cracked sprag ends. To prevent sprag clutch failure with possible loss of main rotor RPM this Directive mandates replacement of the sprag clutch assembly. Eugene Paul Holzapfel Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 May 2000 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 June 2000.