COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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 CASR 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.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 206/155 Low Fuel Level Detector Unit 2/2005
DM
Applicability: Model 206L series helicopters equipped with low fuel level detector unit part number (P/N) 206-063-613-003.
Requirement: Unless already accomplished, remove from service low fuel level detector unit P/N 206-063-613-003 with serial numbers 1413, 1414, 1415, 1424, 1428, 1430, 1432 and
1433 as per BHTC Alert Service Bulletin ASB 206L-04-132, Revision A, dated 4 October 2004, or later revisions approved by Transport Canada.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-2004-24 refers.
Compliance: Before 31 December 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 22 December 2004.
Background: Transport Canada has advised that Bell Helicopter has determined that eight low fuel level detector units, which were sold as spares during the period 19 April 2004 to 26 July 2004, can ‘hang-up’ in the high position and fail to indicate a low fuel condition.
This Directive mandates the removal of the affected low fuel level detector units.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 December 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) were enacted to ensure the highest standards of aviation safety in Australia, addressing a critical gap in the regulation of civil aviation. These regulations were established under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, with the primary objective of ensuring the safety of aviation operations. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enforcing body responsible for the implementation and enforcement of these regulations, with a focus on maintaining and enhancing the safety of Australia's civil aviation sector. The policy objective behind these regulations is to provide a comprehensive framework that addresses all aspects of civil aviation safety, including aircraft maintenance, airworthiness, and operational standards. This legislative instrument plays a crucial role in mitigating risks associated with civil aviation, thereby protecting the public and promoting a safe aviation environment.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the requirements for airworthiness directives, which are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. This legislative instrument applies to any person or entity operating certain aircraft or aeronautical products within Australia, with a focus on maintaining the safety and airworthiness of these items. In this case, the Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to Model 206L series helicopters equipped with specific low fuel level detector units. The directive mandates that these units, identified by particular part and serial numbers, must be removed from service if they are found to be defective. The directive specifies the need to act before a certain date, demonstrating the urgency and importance of compliance with the directive for safety reasons. This AD is issued under the authority of the CASA delegate, as outlined in the regulations, and is binding on the relevant operators of the affected helicopters.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) specified in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Part 39, Section 105, mandates specific actions for certain helicopter models to ensure safety. Specifically, Section 39.1 (1) empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue ADs that correct unsafe conditions. This particular AD, AD/BELL 206/155, applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters equipped with a low fuel level detector unit part number (P/N) 206-063-613-003. The directive requires the removal of certain low fuel level detector units unless they have already been removed. The affected serial numbers for the low fuel level detector units are 1413, 1414, 1415, 1424, 1428, 1430, 1432, and 1433. The removal must be carried out in accordance with BHTC Alert Service Bulletin ASB 206L-04-132, Revision A, dated 4 October 2004, or later revisions approved by Transport Canada.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of the affected helicopters. They must ensure that the identified low fuel level detector units are removed from service before the deadline of 31 December 2004. This requirement is intended to prevent potential safety hazards arising from the failure of these units to indicate low fuel conditions accurately. The directive's compliance date is 22 December 2004, indicating when the directive became effective and must be adhered to by the relevant parties.
Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious consequences. The AD is backed by regulatory authority, and non-compliance could be viewed as a breach of aviation safety standards. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the AD, non-compliance with CASA directives generally can lead to enforcement actions, including fines, grounding of the aircraft, or other regulatory penalties. The seriousness of aviation safety cannot be overstated, and penalties can be severe to ensure adherence to safety mandates.