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
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.
AD/BELL 206/147 Fuel System 9/2001
Applicability: Agusta Bell AB 206A, AB 206B and AB 206BIII helicopters equipped with fuel boost pump, P/No 206-062-681.
Requirement: Inspect the fuel system to verify the correct configuration of the fuel system components in accordance with Agusta Bolletino Tecnico 206-232.
Note: RAI AD 2000-356 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, within 100 flight hours of the effective date of this Airworthiness Directive but no later than 31 October 2001.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 September 2001.
Background: This Directive is prompted by advice from the Italian RAI that an Augusta AB 206 accident was attributed to a fuel system configuration error.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 26 July 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 15 August 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted by the Australian Parliament, provide a comprehensive regulatory framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. This legislation was introduced to ensure that the operation of aircraft within Australia is conducted safely and efficiently, and to harmonise Australian regulations with international standards where possible. Part 39 of the Civil Aviation Regulations specifically deals with Airworthiness Directives, which are legally enforceable orders issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address specific safety issues that have been identified in certain aircraft or aeronautical products. The policy objective of these directives is to ensure that any potential safety risks are mitigated to maintain the highest standards of air safety. One such Airworthiness Directive is AD/BELL 206/147, issued in response to an identified safety issue concerning the fuel system of specific Bell and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. This directive mandates a detailed inspection of the fuel system components to verify their correct configuration, reflecting CASA's commitment to proactive safety management in the aviation sector.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR) pertains specifically to Agusta Bell AB 206A, AB 206B, and AB 206BIII helicopters that are equipped with a fuel boost pump, part number 206-062-681. This directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a safety measure to address a hazardous condition identified in the fuel system of these helicopters, which was found to have contributed to an accident reported by the Italian civil aviation authority, RAI. The directive mandates that an inspection of the fuel system be conducted to ensure that the components are correctly configured as per Agusta Bolletino Tecnico 206-232. This inspection must be carried out within 100 flight hours from the effective date of the AD, which is 6 September 2001, but no later than 31 October 2001. The AD is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring compliance across the nation with the safety standards set by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, provide detailed requirements and obligations for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. Specifically, the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under section 39.1(1) (1) mandates corrective actions to address safety concerns. For instance, AD/BELL 206/147 focuses on the fuel system of Agusta Bell 206A, AB 206B, and AB 206BIII helicopters equipped with a particular fuel boost pump (2). This AD applies to these models if they are fitted with the specified pump, identified by part number 206-062-681 (3).
The directive requires an inspection of the fuel system to ensure it is correctly configured according to Agusta Bolletino Tecnico 206-232 (4). This inspection must be carried out within 100 flight hours from the directive's effective date but no later than 31 October 2001 (5). The directive aims to rectify a configuration error that was identified following a reported accident in Italy, as referenced in RAI AD 2000-356 (6). The directive becomes effective on 6 September 2001 (7).
Operators and owners of Agusta Bell 206A, AB 206B, and AB 206BIII helicopters with the specified fuel boost pump must comply with the directive's requirements (8). Failure to inspect and correct the fuel system configuration as specified can lead to potential safety hazards and non-compliance with aviation safety regulations. Operators must ensure that the inspection is performed by qualified personnel and that all identified issues are rectified in accordance with the directive's instructions (9).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in serious safety consequences, including the potential for fuel system malfunctions that could lead to accidents (10). The AD does not specify civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance, but operators may face enforcement actions from CASA, which could include grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved (11). Additionally, continued operation of a non-compliant aircraft could result in further regulatory scrutiny and potential legal action.