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 204/22 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 204/22
Amdt 1
Main Rotor Blades Removal From Service 8/2000
Applicability: All Models.
Requirement: The main rotor blades with the serial numbers listed below are to be removed from service.
A2-03642 | A2-03643 | A2-03646 | A2-27872 | A2-27961 |
A2-27963 | A2-27967 | A2-27968 | A-27982 | A2-28015 |
A2-28016 | A2-28019 | A2-28020 | A2-28023 | A2-28195 |
A2-28198 | A2-28211 | A2-29315 | A2-29325 | |
A2-29334 | A2-29915 | A2-29919 | A2-29920 | |
Note: FAA AD 76-02-06 refers.
Compliance: Before further flight after 16 January 1976.
This Amendment becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
Background: This directive was issued initially to remove certain MR blades from service.
Amendment 1 is issued to reference the country of manufacture AD. It also follows the re-introduction of the AD Series after sixteen years.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 16 January 1976.
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 (CAR 1998) were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia and were introduced to address gaps in aviation safety regulations. This legislative instrument is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority delegated by the Australian Government. The policy objective of the CAR 1998 is to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations in Australia. The regulations cover various aspects, including aircraft design and maintenance, airworthiness directives, and operational standards. This specific legislative instrument, F2006B04328, amends an existing Airworthiness Directive concerning Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series helicopters, specifically addressing the removal of certain main rotor blades from service to mitigate safety risks. This amendment ensures that the safety standards are consistently applied and updated in line with technological advancements and emerging safety concerns.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 204/22 issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) pertains specifically to all models of Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters. This directive mandates the removal from service of particular main rotor blades identified by specific serial numbers due to safety concerns. The directive applies to any helicopter that has the specified main rotor blades installed, irrespective of the operator or the helicopter's location within the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive is effective from before any further flight after 16 January 1976, with Amendment 1 becoming effective on 10 August 2000. The directive was initially issued to address specific safety issues and was subsequently amended to align with international standards, specifically referencing FAA AD 76-02-06. This directive is binding and must be adhered to by all relevant parties within the aviation sector to ensure compliance with civil aviation safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in PART 39 - 105, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives. In this context, the particular AD of interest is AD/BELL 204/22, which has been amended to include further details regarding the removal of specific main rotor blades from service. According to the applicability section (a), the directive applies to all models of Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series helicopters. The requirement section (b) specifies that the main rotor blades with the listed serial numbers must be removed from service. This action is mandated to address an identified unsafe condition. Compliance with this directive is essential before any further flight after 16 January 1976, as stipulated in the compliance section (c).
Under the AD, the obligations imposed on the parties or entities governed by this legislation are clear. Operators of Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series helicopters must ensure that the specified main rotor blades are removed from service before any subsequent flights. This includes identifying the serial numbers of the blades in question and ensuring they are not used until the directive has been complied with. The directive also references FAA AD 76-02-06, indicating a collaborative effort in addressing safety concerns across jurisdictions.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/BELL 204/22 could result in severe consequences. The legislation does not explicitly state penalties, but non-compliance with CASA directives typically carries significant risks. Civil aviation authorities may take enforcement actions that could include grounding of the aircraft, revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential legal action against the operators. The overarching aim is to ensure the safety of air travel by preventing the use of unsafe components in aircraft operations.
In summary, the AD/BELL 204/22 mandates the removal of specific main rotor blades from Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series helicopters to mitigate identified safety risks. Operators must adhere to the directive's requirements by ensuring the specified blades are removed from service before any further flight. Non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including grounding of the aircraft and other regulatory penalties.