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 204/4 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 204/4
Amdt 1
Tail Rotor Assembly Inspection 8/2000
Applicability: Model 204B Series equipped with TR hub and TR Blade assembly P/N 204-011-701- 9 or 204-011-701-15.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Bell SB 204B-1.
Note: FAA AD 67-06-01 refers.
Compliance: 1. Tail rotor blades to be tracked at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service after 15 May 1967.
2. Tail Rotor hub and blade assembly are to be balanced at intervals not exceeding 300 hours time in service after 15 May 1967.
This Amendment becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
Background: This Directive was issued initially to ensure correct track and balance of the tail rotor assembly.
Amendment 1 includes the country of manufacture AD for reference. 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, specifically within Part 39 - 105, contains a legislative instrument known as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This schedule was enacted to address issues of airworthiness and ensure the safety of aircraft operating within Australia. One such Airworthiness Directive (AD) is AD/BELL 204/4, which was initially enacted to ensure the correct track and balance of the tail rotor assembly on Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters. The AD was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the regulatory body responsible for civil aviation safety in Australia. The policy objective behind AD/BELL 204/4 is to rectify any unsafe conditions identified with the specified helicopter models, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation operations within the country.
Scope and Application
The Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters Airworthiness Directive, detailed in PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies specifically to Model 204B Series helicopters equipped with certain tail rotor hub and blade assemblies. This legislation is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable nationwide within the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates that specific actions, outlined in the requirement section of the AD, must be taken to ensure the safety of these aircraft, particularly focusing on the inspection and maintenance of the tail rotor blades and hub. The compliance timeline for these inspections is stringent, with tail rotor blades requiring tracking every 100 hours of service and the hub and blade assembly requiring balancing every 300 hours of service, both starting from 15 May 1967. This Airworthiness Directive, which became effective on 10 August 2000, serves to correct identified unsafe conditions and ensures the continued airworthiness of the specified helicopters.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) requirements for the airworthiness of certain aircraft. Within this part, the focus is on the Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters, with a particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 204/4. This directive mandates specific actions to be taken to address identified safety concerns with the tail rotor assembly of the mentioned helicopters (section 105). The directive outlines what needs to be done to rectify any unsafe conditions that might be present.
According to the AD/BELL 204/4, the primary requirement is that the tail rotor blades of the affected helicopters must be tracked at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service after a specific date, 15 May 1967. Additionally, the tail rotor hub and blade assembly are to be balanced at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service after the same date (section 105.1). These inspections and maintenance actions are to be carried out in accordance with the instructions set out in Bell Service Bulletin 204B-1, and reference is made to a similar directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 67-06-01.
Entities and parties governed by this legislation, including aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers, must adhere to the specified inspection and maintenance intervals. This means that they must ensure that the tail rotor blades and hub and blade assembly of the Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series are tracked and balanced as required by the AD. Failure to comply with these provisions can result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, which could lead to grounding and potential legal repercussions.
Breaches of the requirements outlined in this AD can lead to severe consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives typically results in enforcement actions by CASA. This can include fines, penalties, and potential legal action against the responsible parties. The severity of the penalties can vary depending on the extent and impact of the non-compliance. It is crucial for all involved parties to ensure strict adherence to the AD to avoid these repercussions.