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 206/156 Tail Rotor Blade 2/2005 TX
Applicability: Model 206A, 206B, and 206L helicopters equipped with tail rotor blade part number 206-016-201-131, serial numbers CS-4820 through CS-4845.
Requirement: Part A. Identification of Affected Tail Rotor Blades
Verify if the aircraft is equipped with tail rotor blades identified in the “Blades Affected” section of Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 206-04-101 or 206L-04-131, as applicable. If the aircraft is equipped with an affected blade, enter the part number and serial number into the technical record. If not equipped, indicate in the record that the aircraft is not equipped with blades affected by this Directive.
Part B. Check for Tail Rotor Doubler De-bonding
Until blade replacement, check the affected blades in accordance with Part I of ASB 206-04-101 or 206L-04-131, as applicable, or later Transport Canada approved revision.
Part C. Replacement of the Blades
Replace all affected blades in accordance with Part II of ASB 206-04-101 or 206L- 04-131, as applicable, or later Transport Canada approved revision.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-2004-25 refers.
Compliance: For Part A:
Before further flight after 30 December 2004. For Part B:
Daily, until blade replacement. For Part C:
Within 100 hours time in service after 30 December 2004, or before 31 January 2005, whichever occurs first.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 206/156 (continued)
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 December 2004.
Background: An inadequate surface preparation on a limited number of blades resulted in two reported instances of blade root de-bonding. To ensure blade integrity, all suspected blades are to be checked daily until removed from service.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 December 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 December 2004.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 206/156, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate on 23 December 2004, was enacted to address an issue of inadequate surface preparation on certain tail rotor blades of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. This problem had led to reported instances of blade root de-bonding, necessitating measures to ensure blade integrity. The AD became effective from 30 December 2004, with a compliance timeline that required specific actions to be taken by certain dates. This legislative instrument aimed to mitigate the identified safety risk by mandating the verification, daily checks, and replacement of affected tail rotor blades, ensuring that the aircraft remain safe for operation.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 206/156 applies specifically to Model 206A, 206B, and 206L helicopters that are equipped with a particular tail rotor blade part number 206-016-201-131, within a defined serial number range (CS-4820 through CS-4845). This AD is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia. The AD mandates certain actions to be undertaken to address safety concerns related to the identified tail rotor blades, including identification, inspection for de-bonding, and replacement as necessary. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with specific timelines provided for each of the required actions. The AD became effective on 30 December 2004 and was gazetted on 24 December 2004, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are informed and can comply with the stipulated requirements.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) pertains specifically to certain models of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. The AD, titled AD/BELL 206/156, mandates certain actions to address an identified safety issue with the tail rotor blades of these aircraft. These actions are detailed in the requirement section of the AD, which necessitates verification of blade identification (Part A), checks for blade de-bonding (Part B), and replacement of affected blades (Part C). These actions must be carried out in accordance with specific timelines and instructions provided in the compliance section.
The AD applies to Model 206A, 206B, and 206L helicopters equipped with tail rotor blade part number 206-016-201-131, with serial numbers ranging from CS-4820 through CS-4845. The requirements outlined in the AD include identifying affected blades by checking them against the Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 206-04-101 or 206L-04-131, as applicable. If an affected blade is identified, the part number and serial number must be recorded in the technical record. For compliance purposes, these identifications must be made before further flight after 30 December 2004. Additionally, the AD requires daily checks for tail rotor doubler de-bonding until the blades are replaced. The replacement of all affected blades must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 30 December 2004, or before 31 January 2005, whichever comes first.
The obligations imposed by this AD on the aircraft operators and maintenance personnel are quite specific. Operators must ensure that the identification of affected blades is correctly documented in the technical records. They are also responsible for conducting daily checks for blade de-bonding until the blades are replaced. Furthermore, the replacement of all affected blades must be performed within the specified timeframe to ensure compliance with the AD. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in significant safety risks, as the AD was issued due to reports of blade root de-bonding, which could potentially lead to catastrophic failure during flight.
Breaches of this AD may result in serious consequences, as it is designed to mitigate a significant safety risk. Operators who fail to comply with the AD may face enforcement actions from CASA, including fines and potential grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are completed. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with an AD can include fines of up to $16,200 per offence for individuals and $81,000 for corporations, as stipulated under CASR. Additionally, continued operation of non-compliant aircraft may result in criminal charges, leading to imprisonment for up to five years for individuals and higher fines for corporations. Therefore, strict adherence to the AD is essential to avoid these severe legal and safety repercussions.