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 205/53 Main Rotor Pillow Block 7/87
DM
Applicability: All model 205A and 205A-1 helicopters S/No 30001 to 30332. Requirement: Action in accordance with Bell Alert SB No 205-87-25.
Compliance: Part 1 of Requirement Document: Within 25 hours time in service after 15 May 1987 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours time in service until modified in accordance with Part II of the Requirement document.
Part II of Requirement Document: Within 300 hours time in service after 15 May 1987 or before 30 June 1987 whichever occurs first.
Background: The manufacturer has determined that a contributing factor in the recent failure of a pillow block was loss of torque on the retaining nut.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through legislative instrument F2006B04389, was introduced to address safety concerns in civil aviation, specifically targeting issues identified by manufacturers in aircraft components. This particular regulation pertains to the Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters, focusing on the main rotor pillow block as detailed in Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 205/53. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, the regulation aims to ensure the airworthiness of these helicopters by mandating specific actions in response to identified risks. The policy objective is to enhance safety by preventing failures linked to the loss of torque on the retaining nut of the main rotor pillow block, as highlighted in the manufacturer's service bulletin. Compliance with this directive is critical, requiring actions to be taken within specific time frames post-identified date to mitigate potential hazards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters, applies to all model 205A and 205A-1 helicopters with serial numbers ranging from 30001 to 30332. This regulation mandates compliance with Bell Alert SB No 205-87-25, which is designed to address a critical safety issue identified by the manufacturer involving the main rotor pillow block. The directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that the specified maintenance actions are implemented nationwide. Compliance with this directive requires action within specific timeframes: inspections and actions must be carried out within 25 hours of time in service after 15 May 1987 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service until the modifications outlined in Part II of the Requirement Document are completed. Additionally, modifications must be performed within 300 hours of time in service after 15 May 1987 or before 30 June 1987, whichever comes first. This directive is crucial to mitigating the risk of failure due to the loss of torque on the retaining nut, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected helicopters.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, include a specific Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters (AD/BELL 205/53). This directive pertains to the main rotor pillow block and is identified as AD/BELL 205/53, dated 7/87DM. The directive applies to all model 205A and 205A-1 helicopters with serial numbers (S/No) ranging from 30001 to 30332. The main requirement is that the helicopter operators must follow the action specified in Bell Alert Service Bulletin (SB) No 205-87-25. The directive mandates compliance in two parts, as outlined in the requirement document.
The first part of the requirement document specifies that the action must be taken within 25 hours of time in service after 15 May 1987, and subsequently, it must be performed at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service until the modification in accordance with Part II of the requirement document is completed. The second part of the requirement document requires that the action must be taken within 300 hours of time in service after 15 May 1987 or before 30 June 1987, whichever occurs first. This ensures that the specified maintenance action is performed in a timely manner to prevent any potential issues related to the main rotor pillow block.
Operators of the affected helicopters must ensure that they adhere to the specified maintenance actions and timelines outlined in the requirement document. This involves performing the actions as detailed in Bell Alert SB No 205-87-25, which is essential for maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the helicopters. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft not meeting the necessary safety standards, which could lead to serious safety implications.
Breach of the Airworthiness Directive and failure to comply with the specified maintenance actions can lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) enforces these regulations, and any non-compliance may result in enforcement actions. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the excerpt, breaches of civil aviation regulations can lead to significant fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft. In severe cases, the operator may face criminal charges, particularly if the non-compliance results in an accident or endangers public safety. It is crucial for operators to adhere strictly to the requirements to avoid these potential consequences.