COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 204/10 and issues the following 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/BELL 204/10
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Blade Grip 8/2000
Applicability: All models 204 fitted with tail rotor hub P/N 204-011-801-5 or -7; or P/N 204-011- 701-11 or -13 or -19.
Requirement: Inspect the P/N 204-011-728 or P/N 204-011-706 tail rotor blade grip assemblies for minimum hardness of:
- Rockwell 79 on "B" Scale or
b. below a conductivity of 39 on the international annealed copper standard.
Reading should be taken adjacent top the vibro etched serial number between the blade retention bolts and the grip face.
The test may be accomplished using a Rockwell Hardness tester or Eddy Current tester Magnates FM120 or equivalent.
Note: FAA AD 70-6-2 refers.
Compliance: Before further flight after 3 March 1970, and before installation on an aircraft.
This Amendment becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: This Directive was initially issued to prevent failure of the Subject grip assemblies.
Amendment 1 is issued to provide the country of manufacture AD reference, and to prevent any existing deficient grips from returning to service. It also follows the re- introduction of the AD Series after sixteen years.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 March 1970.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 July 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 July 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the legislative instrument F2006B04318, address the problem of ensuring the airworthiness of specific helicopter models by mandating specific inspections and maintenance actions. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a delegate of the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislative instrument seeks to prevent unsafe conditions related to tail rotor blade grip assemblies in Bell Helicopter Textron 204 series helicopters. The policy objective of this Airworthiness Directive is to ensure the safety of flight operations by enforcing regular inspections and compliance with specified hardness and conductivity standards for the tail rotor blade grips. This directive is crucial in mitigating the risk of failures that could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, encompasses provisions related to the airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products within the Australian jurisdiction. This legislative instrument applies to Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters fitted with specific tail rotor hub parts numbers, namely P/N 204-011-801-5 or -7, or P/N 204-011-701-11 or -13 or -19. The directive mandates that the identified tail rotor blade grip assemblies be inspected for their hardness and conductivity to ensure they meet specified safety standards. This directive applies to these aircraft before further flight after 3 March 1970, and before installation on an aircraft, ensuring compliance with safety standards to prevent unsafe conditions. The application of this Airworthiness Directive is overseen by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and its compliance is mandatory as per the stipulated timelines.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, contain provisions that mandate specific safety measures for aircraft. One such regulation is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters. This AD, specifically AD/BELL 204/10 Amendment 1, applies to all models 204 equipped with particular tail rotor hub parts numbers (sections 1 and 2). The directive mandates that the tail rotor blade grip assemblies must meet specific hardness and conductivity standards (section 3). These inspections must be carried out before any further flight after the date of 3 March 1970 and prior to installation on an aircraft (section 4). This directive ensures that any deficiencies in the tail rotor blade grip assemblies are addressed to prevent potential failures.
Under this Act, the obligations imposed on the relevant parties primarily focus on compliance with the specified inspection and maintenance requirements. Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel are required to ensure that the inspections are performed using appropriate testing equipment and methods, such as a Rockwell Hardness tester or an Eddy Current tester like the Magnates FM120 or its equivalent (section 3). The inspection must be conducted adjacent to the vibro-etched serial number between the blade retention bolts and the grip face to ensure accurate readings. Furthermore, these inspections must be carried out before any subsequent flight and prior to any installation of the aircraft (section 4). Failure to comply with these directives can result in significant safety risks and potential regulatory action.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the AD can lead to serious consequences. The regulations do not explicitly outline specific penalties within the text provided, but non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations generally can result in severe penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges. The seriousness of the offence, the extent of non-compliance, and any resulting harm or risk to safety are factors that can influence the severity of the penalties. It is essential for all parties involved to adhere strictly to the stipulated requirements to avoid such repercussions.