COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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.
Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 205/69 Tail Rotor Grip 6/2002 TX
Applicability: Model 205A, A-1, and B helicopters, with tail rotor grip, part number 205-011-711- 101, installed.
Requirement: 1. Clean the grip.
2. Use a magnet to determine if the tail rotor grip is made of steel. If it is not made of steel, remove and replace it with a serviceable steel tail rotor grip. If the replacement tail rotor grip is not made of steel, it is not eligible for installation.
Note: FAA Emergency AD 2002-08-53 refers.
Compliance: Before further flight after 24 April 2002, unless already accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 April 2002.
Background: The FAA received reports of timed-out, life- limited tail rotor grips, part number 204- 011-728-019, being improperly re- identified and reinstalled. The tail rotor grips were improperly re-identified as part number 205-011-711-101 and installed on some Model 205 series helicopters. The tail rotor grip, part number 205-011-711-101, has an unlimited life, whereas the tail rotor grip, part number 204-011-728-019, has a limited life and is not eligible for installation on a Model 205 series helicopter.
Steven John Swift
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 April 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 April 2002.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), include the Airworthiness Directives (AD) as a means to address specific safety concerns related to aircraft and aeronautical products. The AD/BELL 205/69 issued in 2002 is an example of how CASA ensures the safe operation of Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters by mandating the inspection and replacement of tail rotor grips. This directive was introduced to address the unsafe condition of improperly re-identified and reinstalled tail rotor grips on Model 205 series helicopters, which could lead to potential flight safety risks. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation by enforcing necessary corrective actions to mitigate identified risks. This Airworthiness Directive is effective from 24 April 2002, requiring compliance before further flights and mandating adherence to the instructions provided within the directive.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Model 205A, A-1, and B helicopters of the Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series, which have a tail rotor grip with part number 205-011-711-101 installed. This directive mandates certain actions to ensure the safety of the aircraft, requiring the cleaning of the tail rotor grip and the verification of its material composition using a magnet. If the tail rotor grip is not made of steel, it must be removed and replaced with a serviceable steel tail rotor grip, and if the replacement grip is not made of steel, it is ineligible for installation. The directive came into effect on 24 April 2002 and must be complied with before further flight after this date, unless the required actions have already been completed. This directive is a response to reports of improperly re-identified and reinstalled tail rotor grips, and it aims to prevent the use of life-limited grips that do not meet the required safety standards for the specified helicopter models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the Bell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters, identified as AD/BELL 205/69 (section 1). This AD is applicable to Model 205A, A-1, and B helicopters that are equipped with a tail rotor grip part number 205-011-711-101 (section 2). The AD requires the cleaning of the tail rotor grip and the verification of its material composition using a magnet. If the grip is not made of steel, it must be removed and replaced with a serviceable steel tail rotor grip (section 3). The AD also references FAA Emergency AD 2002-08-53, indicating a cross-jurisdictional concern over the issue (section 3 note).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of the affected helicopters. They are required to ensure that the actions outlined in the directive are carried out before any further flight after 24 April 2002, unless the actions have already been completed (section 4). Operators and owners must adhere to the instructions provided in the directive, including the verification of the tail rotor grip’s material composition and its subsequent replacement if necessary. Compliance with these directives is mandatory to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the helicopters (section 5).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with ADs in the provided text, but it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include administrative penalties, legal action, and potential grounding of non-compliant aircraft, which could result in significant operational disruptions and financial costs for the operators and owners (section 6). Ensuring adherence to the AD is thus crucial to avoid these potential repercussions.