AD/BELL 206/42 Amdt 2 - Pylon Support Link P/N 206-031-508 - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were introduced to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australian airspace. One of the specific legislative instruments under this Act, F2006B04498, addresses the need for maintaining airworthiness in aviation operations. This particular legislative instrument, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, targets the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, aiming to ensure that these aircraft models comply with necessary safety directives. The policy objective behind this instrument is to mandate specific inspections and compliance measures for the pylon support link part number 206-031-508, as detailed in the associated service bulletins and safety directives, thereby enhancing the overall safety and reliability of these helicopter models in operation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates that the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters, as outlined in AD/BELL 206/42 Amendment 2, applies universally to all models within this series. This regulation requires a mandatory inspection of the pylon support link P/N 206-031-508 as stipulated in Bell Service Bulletin No. 206-01-73-2, Revision A, and referenced in Agusta Service Bulletin BT206-59 dated April 2, 1973. Compliance with these directives is essential and must be carried out as specified in the requirement documents. The applicability of this legislation extends to all operators of these helicopter models, ensuring adherence to safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters AD/BELL 206/42 Amendment 2 pertain to the inspection of the pylon support link P/N 206-031-508. Specifically, Section 39.105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandates that all models of the specified helicopters must comply with the requirements set forth in Bell Service Bulletin No. 206-01-73-2, Revision A, which outlines the inspection protocol for the pylon support link. This requirement is applicable to all models of the Bell 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters, as indicated in the applicability clause. These regulations impose several obligations on the parties or entities governed by the Act. Firstly, operators and owners of the specified helicopters are required to ensure that the pylon support link is inspected according to the specifications provided in the referenced service bulletin. This includes adhering to the compliance details as outlined in the document. Additionally, the regulations require that any necessary repairs or replacements of the pylon support link must be carried out by authorised personnel or facilities to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 also establish clear consequences for non-compliance with the airworthiness directives. Any failure to comply with the inspection and maintenance requirements can result in significant civil and criminal penalties. For instance, if an operator or owner fails to adhere to the specified inspection protocol, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions, which can include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges. The maximum penalties for such breaches can be substantial, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to these safety directives to ensure the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations.