COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 205/49 Elevator to Horn Assembly Attachment - Modification
1/85
Applicability: All models.
Requirement: Bell Alert S.B. No. 205-84-21.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, before 1 March 1985 or prior to the issue of the next Maintenance Release after 31 January 1985, whichever is the later.
Background: Several reports have been received of bolt lugs cracking on elevator spar fittings and horn assemblies. Loss of an elevator in flight could result in airframe or tail rotor damage.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, were established to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation safety, ensuring that all aviation activities within Australia are conducted safely and securely. The regulations were introduced to address the need for stringent safety standards and to maintain high levels of safety in the civil aviation sector. A specific focus of Part 39 of these regulations is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives to address identified safety issues. The objective is to ensure that all civil aircraft are maintained in a safe and airworthy condition, thereby protecting the public and preventing accidents. One such directive, AD/BELL 205/49, mandates modifications to the elevator to horn assembly attachment for Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters, reflecting a direct response to reports of bolt lugs cracking, which could lead to significant safety risks such as airframe or tail rotor damage. Compliance with this directive is mandatory to mitigate these risks and maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, mandate certain airworthiness directives for Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters. This directive, AD/BELL 205/49, applies to all models of Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series helicopters. It requires adherence to Bell Alert S.B. No. 205-84-21, which pertains to the modification of the elevator to horn assembly attachment. This directive mandates that the specified modification must be completed before 1 March 1985, or prior to the issuance of the next Maintenance Release after 31 January 1985, whichever date is later. The requirement arises from multiple reports of bolt lugs cracking on elevator spar fittings and horn assemblies, which could potentially lead to the loss of an elevator in flight, resulting in significant airframe or tail rotor damage. The scope of this directive is national, extending across the Commonwealth of Australia and affecting all operators of the specified helicopter models within its jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislation, specifically Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, pertain to Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In this case, AD/BELL 205/49 concerns the Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters and requires a modification to the elevator to horn assembly attachment (section 1). The applicability of this directive extends to all models of the Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series (section 2). The requirement is to comply with Bell Alert S.B. No. 205-84-21, which involves making the specified modification to prevent bolt lugs from cracking on elevator spar fittings and horn assemblies (section 3). The compliance deadline is before 1 March 1985, or prior to the issue of the next Maintenance Release after 31 January 1985, whichever is later (section 4).
The obligations imposed by this Act on the operators of Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters include ensuring that the specified modification is completed by the stipulated compliance date. Operators must adhere to Bell Alert S.B. No. 205-84-21 and follow the outlined procedures to prevent the risk of bolt lugs cracking, which could lead to serious safety issues, including loss of the elevator in flight and potential airframe or tail rotor damage (section 3). Operators are also required to maintain records of compliance and ensure that all maintenance personnel are adequately trained and aware of the modifications and their importance.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive could result in serious civil and criminal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including the potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made (section 5). Furthermore, individuals or companies found to have wilfully or negligently failed to comply with the Act could face criminal charges, with potential penalties including fines and imprisonment. The exact penalties for such offences depend on the specific circumstances and the discretion of the court but can be substantial, reflecting the serious nature of aviation safety regulations.