AD/BELL 206/86 - Pylon Support Installation Retaining Bolts - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to regulate various aspects of civil aviation, including the airworthiness of aircraft. Within this framework, Part 39 - 105 addresses the issuance of airworthiness directives, which are crucial in ensuring the safety of aircraft operations. The legislative instrument F2006B04536 pertains specifically to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, focusing on the inspection of pylon support installation retaining bolts. This directive was introduced to address a specific issue where some pylon support retaining bolts may have been incorrectly installed at the manufacturing stage, as noted in Bell Technical Bulletin No. 206L-80-52. The policy objective is to ensure the continued safety and reliability of these helicopters by mandating regular inspections within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1980.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the maintenance and operation of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, more precisely models 206L and 206L-1 with serial numbers referenced in Bell Technical Bulletin No. 206L-80-52. This regulation mandates that all affected helicopters must comply with Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 206/86 concerning the inspection of pylon support installation retaining bolts. Compliance is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1980. The directive arises from a manufacturer advisory highlighting potential issues with the installation of certain pylon support retaining bolts at the time of manufacture. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s regulations ensure these safety concerns are addressed to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the airworthiness directives for certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, particularly focusing on pylon support installation retaining bolts (section 39 - 105.01). The regulation mandates that all models 206L and 206L-1 with serial numbers as referenced in Bell Technical Bulletin No. 206L-80-52 must comply with the directive within 100 hours of time in service after 30 November 1980 (section 39 - 105.02). Compliance with these directives is essential to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft involved. The obligations under these regulations are clear and require helicopter operators and maintenance personnel to inspect the pylon support retaining bolts as outlined in the applicable technical bulletin. The directive mandates that the inspection be performed within the specified timeframe to address potential manufacturing defects that could compromise the structural integrity of the helicopter (section 39 - 105.03). This inspection ensures that any incorrectly installed bolts are identified and rectified promptly, maintaining the aircraft's compliance with airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives stipulated in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to significant consequences. Non-compliance may result in the grounding of the affected aircraft until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed (section 39 - 105.04). Additionally, operators who fail to adhere to these regulations could face penalties, including fines or other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In severe cases, continued operation of non-compliant aircraft could lead to criminal charges, especially if the non-compliance contributes to an accident or incident that endangers lives (section 39 - 105.05). The severity of the penalties reflects the critical importance of adhering to these airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of all persons involved in civil aviation operations.