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 206/89 Emergency Flotation Kit Valve Assembly
P/N 206-073-915-5 - Inspection
8/81
Applicability: All models 206L and 206L-1 fitted with emergency flotation kit P/Nos. referenced in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21.
Document: Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21.
Compliance: Before 1 July 1981, unless already accomplished.
Background: The manufacturer has advised of a recent occurrence involving an overwater emergency in which the emergency floats malfunctioned due to a defective valve of the referenced P/N.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are designed to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. One of the key components of this regulation is Part 39, which includes the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These directives address safety issues and ensure that aircraft maintain a high standard of airworthiness. Specifically, AD/BELL 206/89 pertains to the inspection of the emergency flotation kit valve assembly for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series helicopters. This directive was introduced to address a specific safety issue identified by the manufacturer, involving a defective valve in the emergency flotation kit that could potentially fail during an overwater emergency, as evidenced by an incident reported in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure that all applicable aircraft are inspected and, if necessary, the defective components are replaced to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the aviation safety directives concerning Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, with this particular Airworthiness Directive focusing on the emergency flotation kit valve assembly part number 206-073-915-5. This directive mandates that all operators of Bell 206L and 206L-1 models that are fitted with the emergency flotation kit part numbers referenced in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21 must comply with the specified inspection requirements. The directive applies to helicopters manufactured before 1 July 1981, unless the required inspection has already been completed. The legislation extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing stringent safety standards to ensure the operational reliability of emergency flotation kits, which are crucial in overwater operations. The directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions but requires adherence to the outlined safety measures to mitigate risks associated with defective components.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically Part 39 - 105 (subpart C), includes detailed provisions concerning the airworthiness of aircraft. Within this, Section 39.105 (1) pertains to the applicability of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Section 39.105 (2) mandates that operators of aircraft subject to these directives must comply with them. For the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 series helicopters, AD/BELL 206/89 focuses on the inspection and maintenance of the emergency flotation kit valve assembly.
The AD/BELL 206/89 (subpart C) outlines specific requirements for the inspection of the emergency flotation kit valve assembly (P/N 206-073-915-5) in all models 206L and 206L-1 helicopters fitted with the referenced emergency flotation kits. This inspection is mandated to ensure the kits' operational integrity, particularly in overwater emergencies, as highlighted in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21. The compliance date for this directive is set before 1 July 1981, unless the inspection has already been completed. This means that operators must verify that the emergency flotation kit valve assemblies on their aircraft meet the specified standards and are in good working condition before this date.
Operators of the affected helicopters must adhere to the inspection requirements outlined in the AD/BELL 206/89. This involves thoroughly examining the valve assembly to identify any defects, particularly those that could lead to the malfunction of the emergency flotation kit. The operator is responsible for ensuring that the inspections are conducted by qualified personnel and that any necessary repairs or replacements are carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and CASA guidelines. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding and significant operational disruptions.
Breach of the requirements set out in the AD/BELL 206/89 can result in significant legal consequences. According to Section 39.105 (3), non-compliance with an AD can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. The penalties for non-compliance may include fines and other civil or criminal penalties as determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The specific penalties can vary based on the severity of the breach and the impact on aviation safety, but they can be substantial, reflecting the critical nature of maintaining the airworthiness of emergency flotation systems in overwater operations.