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 206/50 Main Rotor Pitch Link Tubes - Inspection 6/73
Applicability: All models.
Document: Bell SB No. 206-04-2-73-1.
Compliance: Initially within 25 hours time in service after 25 May 1973 and thereafter in accordance with the requirement document.
Background: AD/Agusta 206/36 equivalent.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. One aspect of these regulations is found in Part 39, which includes the 105th Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B04506, pertains to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, specifically addressing the inspection of main rotor pitch link tubes. The Airworthiness Directive, AD/BELL 206/50, was introduced to mitigate potential safety issues identified with these components. The objective is to ensure compliance with the requirements set forth in Bell SB No. 206-04-2-73-1, with initial inspections mandated within 25 hours of time in service following 25 May 1973 and subsequent inspections to be conducted as per the specified document.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the inspection of main rotor pitch link tubes on Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters, as outlined in Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 206/50. This legislation applies to all models of the specified helicopters, necessitating an initial inspection within 25 hours of time in service following 25 May 1973, and then in accordance with the requirements detailed in Bell Service Bulletin No. 206-04-2-73-1. This directive is consistent with AD/Agusta 206/36, ensuring uniformity in safety standards across equivalent helicopter models. The Act applies to any entity or individual operating these helicopters within the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby extending its jurisdictional reach to encompass national operations. Subordinate instruments may further specify compliance details, but the primary requirement remains the rigorous inspection of the main rotor pitch link tubes to maintain airworthiness.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. Within this document, AD/BELL 206/50 pertains to the inspection of main rotor pitch link tubes for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters (section 6/73). This directive applies to all models of the specified helicopters and references Bell Service Bulletin No. 206-04-2-73-1 for compliance details. The initial inspection must occur within 25 hours of time in service after 25 May 1973, with subsequent inspections conducted as per the specified requirement document.
The key obligations imposed by this regulation include ensuring that inspections of the main rotor pitch link tubes are performed in accordance with the outlined schedule and the requirements specified in Bell SB No. 206-04-2-73-1. Operators and owners of the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters must adhere to these inspection protocols to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. Failure to comply with these inspection requirements may lead to serious safety issues, including the potential for in-flight failures that could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/BELL 206/50 can result in various consequences, including enforcement actions by CASA. In cases where operators or owners do not adhere to the inspection requirements, CASA may take action to ensure compliance, which could include grounding the affected aircraft until the necessary inspections are performed and any required repairs are completed. Additionally, civil and criminal penalties may apply for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), the maximum penalty for contravening a CASA regulation can be significant, including fines of up to $1,650,000 for corporations and up to $330,000 for individuals, as well as potential imprisonment terms. The severity of these penalties underscores the importance of strict adherence to the inspection requirements outlined in AD/BELL 206/50 to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected helicopters.