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 206/127
Amdt 1
Main Rotor Hub Trunnion Master Spline 13/94
DM
Applicability: Models 206A; 206B and B-1; and 206L, L-1, L-3 and L-4 fitted with main rotor hub trunnion P/n 206-011-113-103 or P/n 206-011-120-103.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Bell, Alert S.B. 206-93-75, or Alert S.B. 206L-93-90 Rev.
A as applicable.
Note: FAA AD 94-20-03 refers, this supersedes FAA Priority Letter AD 93-22-11.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, within 50 hours time in service, or 90 days after
19 October 1994, whichever occurs first. The effective date for the initial issue was 15 December 1993.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that some trunnions may have been manufactured with the master spline located incorrectly. This will result in the pitch change links being mis-aligned.
Amendment 1 requires additional work for 206L models, in that the spline location in Figure 3 of the original Requirement Document was incorrect.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address the need for stringent safety standards within the civil aviation sector. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives aimed at ensuring that aircraft and related components meet specific safety standards. This legislation was introduced to fill the gap in maintaining a high standard of airworthiness across all civil aviation activities, thereby protecting the safety of passengers, crew, and the general public. The policy objective of these regulations is to provide clear, enforceable guidelines to mitigate risks associated with aviation operations, ensuring compliance with international safety standards.
One such directive, AD/BELL 206/127 Amendment 1, specifically targets Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. This directive was prompted by concerns regarding the potential misalignment of the main rotor hub trunnion master spline, which could lead to safety issues. The requirement mandates corrective action according to specified manufacturer bulletins, with compliance deadlines designed to ensure timely rectification of the identified issue. This directive underscores CASA's commitment to proactive safety management by addressing manufacturing defects and ensuring that all aircraft in operation meet the necessary safety criteria.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines the regulatory requirements for airworthiness directives in Australia, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) overseeing compliance. This particular legislation, AD/BELL 206/127 Amendment 1, pertains to the maintenance of main rotor hub trunnions for certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters, namely models 206A, 206B, B-1, 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4. The directive applies to helicopters fitted with specific main rotor hub trunnion parts numbers, necessitating compliance with Bell Alert Service Bulletins 206-93-75 or 206L-93-90 Rev. A, depending on the model. The action required must be completed within a timeframe of 50 hours of time in service or within 90 days from 19 October 1994, whichever is sooner. This amendment addresses a manufacturing issue where the master spline might have been incorrectly positioned, affecting the alignment of pitch change links, with an effective date of 15 December 1993 for the initial issue.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include a schedule of Airworthiness Directives that pertain to the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. Within this schedule, AD/BELL 206/127 Amendment 1 addresses the issue of the Main Rotor Hub Trunnion Master Spline, as outlined in section 13/94DM. This directive applies to models 206A, 206B and B-1, and 206L, L-1, L-3 and L-4 helicopters fitted with specific main rotor hub trunnion parts numbers.
The directive requires compliance with Bell Alert Service Bulletins 206-93-75 or 206L-93-90 Rev.A, as appropriate, and supersedes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Priority Letter AD 93-22-11. Operators must adhere to these service bulletins, which mandate specific actions to rectify the issue of potentially misaligned pitch change links due to incorrectly manufactured trunnions. Compliance with the directive must occur within 50 flight hours or 90 days after 19 October 1994, whichever is earlier. The directive came into effect on 15 December 1993.
Entities governed by these regulations must ensure that the specified actions are carried out as per the service bulletins. This involves a thorough inspection and, if necessary, corrective actions on the main rotor hub trunnion to align the master spline correctly. For the 206L models, the amendment rectifies an error in the original requirement document concerning the spline location. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) mandates these steps to ensure the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives can result in significant consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the specified requirements may face enforcement actions from CASA, which can include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory penalties. The exact penalties are determined by CASA based on the severity and circumstances of the non-compliance. The directive underscores the importance of safety in civil aviation, and non-compliance can lead to severe civil and potentially criminal consequences.