AD/BELL 206/13 - Fan Shaft Assembly - Inspection

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 of these regulations, which includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, ensures that aircraft and related components meet the highest safety standards. One such directive, AD/BELL 206/13, was introduced to address potential safety concerns with the fan shaft assembly of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. This directive mandates inspections of the fan shaft assembly to prevent any possible failures that could compromise flight safety. The objective is to ensure that all affected helicopters comply with the specified inspection requirements, thereby maintaining airworthiness and safeguarding against potential hazards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governing the maintenance and inspection requirements for certain aircraft types, including Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. This legislation applies to all model 206A and AB-206A helicopters and mandates specific inspections of the fan shaft assembly as detailed in Bell SB No. 206A-9 and Agusta SB No. BT206-30. The inspection must occur within 25 hours of time in service following 23 April 1969 for helicopters with 300 hours or less total time in service and for serial numbers listed in the specified bulletins. Additionally, inspections are required whenever the fan drive shaft bearing hangars are removed, reinstalled, or replaced. This directive ensures ongoing compliance with safety standards and aims to prevent potential mechanical failures related to the fan shaft assembly.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39-105, includes Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft models. One such AD is AD/BELL 206/13 which applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. This AD mandates inspections of the fan shaft assembly in certain circumstances. According to section 1 of AD/BELL 206/13, an initial inspection must be conducted within 25 hours of time in service after April 23, 1969, for helicopters with 300 hours or less total time in service, as well as those with serial numbers listed in Bell Service Bulletin (SB) No. 206A-9. Furthermore, an inspection is required whenever the fan drive shaft bearing hangars are removed, reinstalled, or replaced. Compliance with AD/BELL 206/13 entails that the operators of affected helicopters must ensure that the specified inspections are carried out as per the stipulated timeframes and conditions. This includes keeping accurate records of the inspections and any actions taken, as well as maintaining the helicopters in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and CASA guidelines. Operators must also ensure that the personnel responsible for conducting the inspections are adequately trained and qualified. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/BELL 206/13 can result in various civil and criminal consequences. Under section 911D of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD is an offence, which may lead to fines and/or imprisonment. The maximum penalty for an individual is a fine of up to $21,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, while the maximum penalty for a corporation is a fine of up to $105,000 or both. Additionally, CASA may take enforcement action against the operator, which could include grounding the affected aircraft, imposing operational restrictions, or revoking the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness.