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 204/6 Amdt 11 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 204/6
Amdt 12
Fatigue Critical Components Retirement Lives 8/2000
Applicability: Model Bell 204B.
Requirement: All components listed in BHT-204B-M&O must be retired from service at the time in service specified therein, except for:
- MR masts listed at AD/Bell 204/44 which have RIN reduced to 265 000,
- Bolts connecting main rotor swashplate outer ring trunnions to swashplate drive links - retire at 500 hours time in service.
All components covered by this directive must have a component log card on which hours time in service, torque events, or RIN are recorded. Components for which a history cannot be substantiated are to be removed from service.
Compliance: From the effective date of this directive.
This Amendment becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
Background: 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, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include specific provisions for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft, including helicopters. Part 39 of these regulations outlines Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that address safety issues with particular aircraft models. One such AD, AD/BELL 204/6 Amdt 12, issued in 2000, pertains to Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series helicopters and specifically the Bell 204B model. This directive was enacted to rectify safety concerns related to the fatigue of critical components in these aircraft. The AD mandates the retirement of certain components at specified intervals to mitigate risks associated with their prolonged use. This amendment to the AD series aims to ensure that all critical components are appropriately managed to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the Bell 204B helicopters.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, addresses the safety of airworthiness directives, with a focus on the Bell Helicopter Textron 204 Series Helicopters, as detailed in Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 204/6 Amdt 12. This directive applies to operators of the Bell 204B model helicopters, mandating that certain components must be retired from service at specified times or operational hours to maintain safety standards. The directive requires all components listed in the Bell Helicopter Technical Order BHT-204B-M&O to be retired from service according to the specified times in service, with exceptions for certain MR masts and bolts connecting the main rotor swashplate outer ring trunnions to swashplate drive links, which must be retired at 500 hours. The directive applies from the effective date of the amendment, which became effective on 10 August 2000. This mandate is issued by the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), David Alan Villiers, and ensures that all relevant components have a component log card that records the hours in service, torque events, or RIN, with components lacking substantiated history to be removed from service. The directive underscores the commitment to ensuring the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations within Australia.
Key Provisions
The main sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertain to the applicability, requirements, and compliance timelines for specific components of the Bell 204B model helicopter (Section 1). The applicability section indicates that the AD applies to the Bell 204B model helicopters. The requirements section specifies the components that must be retired from service at particular times in service or after certain conditions are met. These components include those listed in BHT-204B-M&O, with exceptions for MR masts listed in AD/Bell 204/44 and bolts connecting the main rotor swashplate outer ring trunnions to the swashplate drive links. Each component must have a log card to record hours in service, torque events, or RIN, and components for which a history cannot be substantiated must be removed from service. The compliance section mandates that these actions be taken from the effective date of this directive, which is 10 August 2000.
This Act imposes several obligations on the operators and maintainers of Bell 204B model helicopters. They must ensure that all specified components are retired from service at the specified times or conditions as outlined in the AD. This includes maintaining accurate component log cards to document the service history of each component. Operators must also verify that the components' histories are substantiated; if not, the components must be removed from service. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and legal repercussions.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this AD can result in serious consequences. Specifically, if an operator fails to retire components as required or does not maintain proper documentation, the aircraft may be found to be unairworthy. This can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other administrative actions. While the AD itself does not specify maximum penalties, breaches of civil aviation regulations generally can result in significant financial penalties and operational disruptions.
The AD underscores the importance of adhering to specific maintenance and service standards to ensure the safety of operations involving the Bell 204B model helicopters. By setting clear requirements for component retirement and record-keeping, the AD aims to mitigate risks associated with fatigue and wear in critical components. Operators must diligently follow these guidelines to avoid regulatory penalties and ensure the continued airworthiness of their aircraft.