COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 206/111
Amdt 2
Engine Fuel Valve Electrical Connectors P/N MS3456W14S-5S
8/88
Applicability: Bell Model 206 S/No’s 4 to 3963, 3966, 3968 to 3977, and 3979 to 3983.
Agusta Bell 206 S/No’s up to and including S/No 8706.
Requirement: Bell Model 206: Action in accordance with Bell Alert SB 206-87-40 Revision A. Bell Model 206L and 206L1: Action in accordance with Bell Alert SB No
206L-87-49.
Agusta Bell: Action in accordance with Agusta Technical Bulletin 206-184.
Compliance: Bell 206: Prior to 1 March 1988.
Agusta Bell 206: Prior to 6 October 1988.
Background: Field reports against some motor driven fuel valves indicate that with no prior warning the valve begins to oscillate between ‘open and closed’. The failure has been traced to an internal short circuit within the fuel valve connector P/N MS3456W14S- 5S manufactured by T.J. Electronics, and identified by the prefix TJE.
Amendment 2 to this Directive is being issued to include Agusta Bell 206 as an applicable aircraft.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, are designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39 specifically addresses the airworthiness of aircraft, with the 105th Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives targeting the safety of the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. The directive AD/BELL 206/111 Amendment 2, issued to address the problem of fuel valve connector failures leading to hazardous oscillation of the fuel valves, was enacted to ensure the safety of these aircraft models. The policy objective is to mitigate the risk of in-flight failures by mandating corrective actions in accordance with specific technical bulletins issued by Bell and Agusta. This legislation was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, aiming to protect the public and enhance the safety of civil aviation operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters. This legislation mandates specific actions for the Bell Model 206 serial numbers ranging from 4 to 3963, 3966, 3968 to 3977, and 3979 to 3983, as well as Agusta Bell 206 serial numbers up to and including 8706. The directive requires compliance with particular service bulletins and technical bulletins to address an issue with the engine fuel valve electrical connectors. For Bell Model 206, compliance must be achieved before 1 March 1988, and for Agusta Bell 206 before 6 October 1988. The regulation does not explicitly mention any exclusions or thresholds, but the application is strictly limited to the specified serial numbers of the identified aircraft models. This legislative instrument ensures that the specified aircraft are maintained to a standard that mitigates the risk of engine fuel valve failures due to internal short circuits within the connectors.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of Airworthiness Directives, address the safety requirements for certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. These requirements are detailed in AD/BELL 206/111 Amendment 2 (AD/BELL 206/111 Amdt 2). This amendment pertains to the engine fuel valve electrical connectors P/N MS3456W14S-5S8/88, which have been identified as a safety concern due to potential internal short circuits causing unexpected oscillations between the open and closed positions of the fuel valves.
The applicable aircraft models include Bell Model 206 with serial numbers (S/No’s) ranging from 4 to 3963, 3966, 3968 to 3977, and 3979 to 3983, as well as Agusta Bell 206 models with serial numbers up to and including S/No 8706. For the Bell Model 206, the action required is in accordance with Bell Alert SB 206-87-40 Revision A, and for the Bell Model 206L and 206L1, the action is as per Bell Alert SB No 206L-87-49. Agusta Bell 206 models must follow Agusta Technical Bulletin 206-184. Compliance with these directives must be achieved by Bell 206 models before 1 March 1988, and by Agusta Bell 206 models before 6 October 1988.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of these helicopters to ensure they comply with the outlined safety directives. This includes implementing the corrective actions specified in the respective service bulletins or technical bulletins. Operators must ensure that the identified fuel valve connectors are inspected, repaired, or replaced as necessary to prevent internal short circuits. Compliance with these requirements is critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the helicopters and ensuring the safety of all personnel on board.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives and the specified corrective actions may result in significant legal consequences. Civil penalties may be imposed for non-compliance, including fines and other financial penalties as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, continued operation of non-compliant aircraft may lead to enforcement actions by CASA, which could include grounding the aircraft until the necessary actions are taken. These measures are in place to ensure the highest standards of safety and operational integrity in civil aviation.