AD/BELL 204/13 Amdt 2 - Tail Rotor Pitch Change Chain

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), established by the Australian Parliament, form a comprehensive legal framework aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Among the many parts of these regulations, Part 39 - 105 pertains to Airworthiness Directives, which are legally binding orders issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address identified safety issues with specific aircraft or aeronautical products. The problem this part of the regulation addresses is the need to enforce consistent safety standards across the aviation industry to protect public safety and ensure the reliability of air travel. This is achieved by mandating specific actions to be taken by aircraft operators in response to identified hazards. The policy objective underlying these directives is to maintain the highest possible safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting passengers, crew, and the general public from potential hazards. In 2000, the CASA issued Amendment 2 to Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 204/13, targeting the Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters. This specific amendment required the inspection and necessary actions on the tail rotor pitch change chains of Model 204 helicopters with certain part numbers installed, following guidelines set out by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in AD 76-12-07. This action was taken to rectify an identified unsafe condition that needed immediate attention to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. The amendment became effective on 10 August 2000, mandating that the specified inspections and actions be carried out before further flight and at regular intervals thereafter.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, establish a framework for ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. This legislative instrument pertains to Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters and mandates the action outlined in the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive applies to Model 204 helicopters equipped with specific tail rotor pitch change chains, namely P/N204-001-739-3. The requirement is that the action specified in FAA AD 76-12-07 must be taken before further flight after the effective date of this directive and then at intervals not exceeding 25 hours’ time in service. This directive, which follows the re-introduction of the AD Series after a gap of sixteen years, is intended to address a particular pitch change chain not otherwise covered by a previous directive, AD/Bell 204/6 Amdt 12. The scope of this AD extends to ensuring the safety of these aircraft by mandating specific maintenance actions, thereby upholding the standards set by the Civil Aviation Regulations within the Australian jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, include a provision concerning the Bell Helicopter Textron 204 series helicopters (Sections 39.1). This regulation revokes the previous Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 204/13 Amdt 1 and issues a new directive, AD/BELL 204/13 Amdt 2, which is effective from 10 August 2000. This new directive mandates specific actions to correct an unsafe condition identified in the tail rotor pitch change chain of Model 204 helicopters with tail rotor pitch change chains P/N204-001-739-3 installed. Under the new directive, the requirement is to perform an action in accordance with the FAA AD 76-12-07, which likely involves inspecting or maintaining the tail rotor pitch change chain to ensure it meets safety standards. The compliance section of the directive stipulates that this action must be taken before further flight after the effective date of the directive, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service. This ensures that the helicopter remains airworthy and safe for operation. The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties governed by it include ensuring that the specified inspections or maintenance actions are carried out on the tail rotor pitch change chain of the affected helicopters. This involves adherence to the FAA AD 76-12-07 guidelines, which likely include detailed procedures for inspecting, repairing, or replacing the pitch change chain as necessary. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in serious safety risks. There are potential consequences for non-compliance with this airworthiness directive. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may impose both civil and criminal penalties for failing to adhere to airworthiness directives. While the specific penalties are not detailed in this legislative instrument, general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 may apply, including fines and imprisonment. The maximum penalties for breaches can be substantial, reflecting the serious nature of ensuring aircraft safety.