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 206/22 Hydraulic Actuator - Replacement 12/69
Applicability: All model 206A and AB-206A. Document: Bell SB No. 206A-12.
Note: Agusta SB No. BT206-35 refers.
Compliance: 1. For actuators with 850 hours or more total time in service at 17 November 1969 - within the next 25 hours time in service.
2. For actuators with less than 850 hours total time in service - before exceeding 875 hours total time in service.
Background: AD/Agusta 206/15 equivalent.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety requirements for airworthiness directives concerning Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. This legislation was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure the safety of civil aviation and address any gaps in the regulatory oversight of airworthiness directives, particularly focusing on the hydraulic actuators of specified helicopter models. The objective is to mandate the replacement of hydraulic actuators in Bell and Agusta 206 Series Helicopters to prevent potential safety risks associated with the service hours of these components. This directive is applicable to all model 206A and AB-206A helicopters and is referenced in Bell SB No. 206A-12 and Agusta SB No. BT206-35, aligning with the AD/Agusta 206/15 equivalent. Compliance requires the replacement of actuators based on their total time in service, ensuring they meet safety standards within specified timeframes.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, pertains to the scope and application of airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) concerning certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. This regulation is designed to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating compliance with specified maintenance actions. The directive applies to all model 206A and AB-206A helicopters, requiring immediate attention to hydraulic actuators to maintain operational safety. The directive references Bell SB No. 206A-12 and Agusta SB No. BT206-35 for detailed compliance instructions, and it corresponds with AD/Agusta 206/15. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it is governed by the Commonwealth of Australia and enforced by CASA. The legislation does not explicitly mention exclusions or exemptions, implying that all applicable aircraft must comply with the outlined directives. The application of the directive may also be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, PART 39 - 105, specify the requirements for the replacement of hydraulic actuators in Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters. Specifically, section 39.105 mandates the replacement of hydraulic actuators for the model 206A and AB-206A helicopters, as detailed in Bell SB No. 206A-12, with corresponding references to Agusta SB No. BT206-35. The compliance requirements are outlined for different time-in-service thresholds of the actuators.
Section 39.105(1) requires that for actuators with 850 hours or more of total time in service by 17 November 1969, the replacement must be completed within the next 25 hours of time in service. For actuators with less than 850 hours of total time in service by that date, section 39.105(2) mandates that the replacement must occur before the total time in service reaches 875 hours. These provisions ensure that the hydraulic actuators are replaced at critical points to maintain the airworthiness of the helicopters.
The obligations imposed by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 on the operators and owners of the Bell and Agusta helicopters are to ensure that the hydraulic actuators are replaced according to the specified time-in-service criteria. The operators must adhere to the maintenance schedules outlined in the service bulletins, Bell SB No. 206A-12 and Agusta SB No. BT206-35, to comply with the regulatory requirements. They must maintain accurate records of the total time in service for each actuator and ensure timely replacements to avoid any non-compliance issues.
Breach of the requirements outlined in section 39.105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may result in significant consequences. The act of failing to comply with the airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The potential penalties for non-compliance include fines and other sanctions as stipulated under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, continued operation of the aircraft with non-compliant actuators could result in safety hazards, potentially leading to criminal charges if negligence is proven to have caused harm. The maximum penalties for such breaches can be severe, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to these safety directives.