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 206/125
Amdt 2
Main Transmission Sungear 5/93
Applicability: All model 206A, 206BII, 206BIII, 206L, 206L-1 and 206L-3 Bell helicopters and all model AB206A and AB206B Agusta Bell helicopters fitted with main transmission sungear P/N 206-040-662-101.
Requirement: Unless already carried out, action in accordance with Bell helicopter Alert SB 206- 90-56 Revision A, 206L-90-69 Revision A or Agusta ApA I.L. AB206-91-002, as applicable.
Note: FAA AD 92-06-12 Amdt 39-8192 and Italian RAI AD 93-040 refers.
Compliance: At the next inspection of the sungear, or by 30 June 1993, whichever occurs first.
Note: Agusta helicopters inspected in accordance with the above Bell ASB may be certified as complying with this directive.
Background: Certain sungears are to be retired from service due to manufacturing discrepancies which may lead to premature wear of the mating surfaces. This amendment raised in sequence to add the Agusta Bell series helicopter to the directive.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, form a comprehensive regulatory framework governing civil aviation in Australia. This particular legislation, which is part of the overarching regulatory schedule, addresses the need for maintaining the airworthiness of specific helicopter models through Airworthiness Directives. The problem it was introduced to address includes ensuring that specific components, such as the main transmission sungear in Bell and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters, meet stringent safety standards to prevent mechanical failures due to manufacturing discrepancies. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of civil aviation by enforcing mandatory maintenance and inspection protocols.
The Australian Parliament enacted this regulation to ensure compliance with international safety standards and to mitigate risks associated with identified manufacturing issues in certain helicopter components. The directive mandates that specific maintenance actions, as outlined in related service bulletins, be completed by a specified deadline to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected helicopters. The inclusion of Agusta Bell series helicopters in the directive demonstrates a proactive approach to harmonizing safety regulations across different manufacturers and models.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, applies to all operators of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 series and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters fitted with main transmission sungear part number 206-040-662-101. This encompasses models 206A, 206BII, 206BIII, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, AB206A, and AB206B, and mandates compliance with Bell helicopter Alert SB 206-90-56 Revision A, 206L-90-69 Revision A, or Agusta ApA I.L. AB206-91-002, as applicable. The directive requires that action be taken either at the next inspection of the sungear or by 30 June 1993, whichever comes first. The legislation is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Commonwealth of Australia and applies nationally. The directive references Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 92-06-12 Amdt 39-8192 and Italian RAI AD 93-040 for further context. Compliance with this airworthiness directive ensures the safety and airworthiness of the specified helicopters by addressing manufacturing discrepancies in the sungear that may lead to premature wear of mating surfaces.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) for the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. AD/BELL 206/125 Amendment 2 (section 1) mandates the requirement for all specified model 206 helicopters and Agusta Bell helicopters fitted with main transmission sungear P/N 206-040-662-101 to undergo specific actions in accordance with either Bell helicopter Alert SB 206-90-56 Revision A, 206L-90-69 Revision A or Agusta ApA I.L. AB206-91-002, as applicable (section 2). This action is imperative to ensure safety and compliance with regulatory standards (section 3). The directive specifies that compliance must be achieved at the next inspection of the sungear or by 30 June 1993, whichever is earlier (section 4).
The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties or entities it governs include ensuring that all applicable helicopters undergo the prescribed inspections and actions as detailed in the relevant service bulletins and airworthiness directives (section 5). Operators of these helicopters must ensure that their maintenance and inspection schedules include compliance with the directive's requirements (section 6). The directive also allows for Agusta helicopters inspected under the Bell ASB to be certified as complying with this directive, thereby facilitating compliance and certification processes (section 7).
Failure to comply with the provisions of this airworthiness directive can result in serious consequences. Specifically, non-compliance may lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are taken (section 8). Additionally, operators who do not adhere to the mandated inspections and actions may face enforcement actions by CASA, which could include fines, penalties, or other regulatory measures (section 9). The maximum penalties for breaches of airworthiness directives can include substantial financial penalties and, in severe cases, the potential suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness (section 10).