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 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/BELL 204/29 Emergency Exit Latch Pin 8/2000
Applicability: Model 204B.
Requirement: Comply with the technical requirements of FAA AD 77-17-05.
Compliance: Inspect and modify before the initial issue of an Australian CofA, and then inspect at intervals not exceeding 300 hours time in service.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
Background: This directive is issued to assure that emergency exit latch pin is engaged and to provide inspection holes for each exit retractable pin. It also follows the re- introduction of the AD Series after sixteen years.
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, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, is a comprehensive legislative framework designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. Among its various provisions, Part 39 specifically addresses airworthiness directives, which are crucial in maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. One such directive is the AD/BELL 204/29, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This directive was introduced to address the issue of ensuring that the emergency exit latch pins on Model 204B Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters are properly engaged, following the technical requirements of FAA AD 77-17-05. The directive mandates specific inspections and modifications to be conducted at prescribed intervals to prevent unsafe conditions, thereby aligning with the overarching policy objective of maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines the scope and application of the Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters. This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is aimed at ensuring the safety of the aircraft by addressing specific technical issues, in this case, the emergency exit latch pin. The directive applies to the Model 204B helicopters and mandates compliance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 77-17-05. The requirement necessitates inspections and modifications to the emergency exit latch pin both before the issuance of an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) and at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service. The directive became effective on 10 August 2000 and is applicable within the jurisdictional reach of the Commonwealth of Australia, administered by the CASA. This legislative instrument underscores CASA’s commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards across the aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued for Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters. The directive (AD/BELL 204/29) is focused on the emergency exit latch pin and was issued on 8 August 2000 by David Alan Villiers, a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (section 1). The directive is applicable to Model 204B helicopters (section 2). The requirement is that the helicopters comply with the technical specifications of FAA AD 77-17-05 (section 3). The directive mandates that the specified inspections and modifications must be carried out before the initial issue of an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA), and subsequently, inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service (section 4). The AD became effective on 10 August 2000 (section 5).
The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this AD include conducting a thorough inspection of the emergency exit latch pin and making necessary modifications as per the FAA AD 77-17-05 specifications. This is to ensure that the latch pin is engaged and to provide inspection holes for each exit retractable pin. Such inspections and modifications must be completed before the helicopter is issued its Australian CofA and then at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service. These requirements are designed to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensure safety compliance.
Failure to adhere to the stipulations outlined in the AD may result in serious consequences. Although the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not specify explicit offences or penalties within this particular AD, non-compliance with CASA directives generally can lead to severe repercussions. These may include the potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved, enforcement actions by CASA, and civil or criminal penalties as provided under other relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The severity of penalties can vary, but they may include substantial fines and, in more severe cases, imprisonment. It is critical for operators and maintenance personnel to ensure strict adherence to the AD to avoid such adverse outcomes.