The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority assess the adequacy of the Turbomeca Arriel engine MO3 bearing lubrication installation to determine if it meets the applicable design standard requirements to ensure the continued airworthiness of relevant Australian registered aircraft.
I refer to your letter dated 18 September 2001 notifying CASA of
Air Safety Recommendations which relate to Occurrence No. 200103038
on the serious incident involving a Sikorsky S76C helicopter,
VH-EXX, which occurred 45km east of Longford Helicopter Landing
Site, Vic on 11 July 2001. Please accept my apologies for the delay
in my reply.
In response to the Recommendations R20010192 and R20010196, CASA
advises the following:
Recommendation R20010192
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority assess the adequacy of the Turbomeca
Arriel engine M03 bearing lubrication installation to determine if
it meets the applicable design standard requirements to ensure the
continued airworthiness of relevant Australian registered
aircraft.
CASA advised the Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) of
the ATSB determination that an engine fire occurred as a result of
engine failure. CASA notes that the DGAC does not support the ATSB
determination. CASA has no evidence of the Turbomeca Arriel Module
3 bearing lubrication system not satisfying turbine engine
certification standards. CASA notes that the DGAC, in advice to the
ATSB dated 31 December 2001, has determined the Arriel 1 engine
complies with the latest requirements of JAR-E-530 "Fire".
Thank you for providing a copy of draft Air Safety Occurrence
Report 200103038 and daft Technical Analysis Report No 34/01 on the
serious incident involving Sikorsky S76C helicopter VH-EXX which
occurred at Brisbane Aerodrome, QLD on 18 October 2001 with
recommendations R20010192 and R20010196.
It is noted that Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
specialist staff have been in close communication with CASA
officers regarding this Esso S76C engine failure, to the mutual
advantage of both parties. The reports are comprehensive and
consistent in indicating that Arriel modification TU204 contributed
towards the engine failure.
CASA's response to recommendations R20010192 and R20010196, which
were originally received by CASA in September 2001, was forwarded
to the ATSB on 22 February 2002. CASA has reviewed draft Air Safety
Occurrence Report 200103038 and reiterates the comments made in our
response of 22 February 2002. A copy of this letter is enclosed.
[ATSB Note: this letter is the one contained in the response from
CASA on 22 February 2002].
The DGAC response was not adequate and did not address the
hazard and discrepancy with the design as identified.
