AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2 - Cyclic Control Stick Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, address safety standards within the aviation industry. This particular amendment, F2006B04546, focuses on enhancing safety by mandating specific inspections and maintenance of the cyclic control stick assemblies for various Bell and Agusta Bell helicopter models. The legislation was introduced to rectify a gap identified in the aviation safety protocols, particularly following an incident where a cyclic control stick failed due to low cycle fatigue and corrosion. The objective of this amendment is to ensure that such incidents do not recur, thereby maintaining high safety standards for all affected aircraft. This directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the oversight of the Commonwealth of Australia, to ensure compliance with safety directives and improve operational safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, address the safety and maintenance requirements for certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters. This regulation applies to all model 206A, 206B, and 206B-JR111 helicopters with specified serial numbers, as well as model 206A helicopters equipped with dual control kits and all model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 helicopters within certain serial number ranges. Additionally, it includes all Agusta Bell AB206A and AB206B helicopters and those equipped with a particular dual control kit part number. The directive mandates compliance with Bell Alert Service Bulletin 206-85-29 and Agusta Bell Service Bulletin 206-169, requiring inspections and maintenance actions within 25 hours of service after 31 November 1985, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of service or 24 months, whichever comes first. This directive aims to address incidents of cyclic control stick failures due to low cycle fatigue and corrosion, ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the specified helicopters.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, include specific provisions for the airworthiness of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters, as outlined in AD/BELL 206/99 Amendment 2. This directive pertains to the cyclic control stick assembly and applies to various model series of the helicopter with specific serial numbers (section 1/86 DM). The directive requires compliance with Bell Alert Service Bulletin 206-85-29, Bell Alert Service Bulletin 206L-85-36, and Agusta Bell Service Bulletin 206-169. The primary requirement is that these inspections and compliance actions must be completed within 25 hours of time in service following 31 November 1985 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of time in service or 24 months, whichever comes first. Operators of these helicopters must ensure that the cyclic control stick assembly is inspected and maintained in accordance with the specified bulletins. This involves detailed checks to prevent the failure of the control stick, which has been attributed to low cycle fatigue and corrosion. The directive aims to ensure the safety of the aircraft by addressing a specific issue that could potentially lead to catastrophic failure during pre-flight checks. This requirement applies to all specified model series and serial numbers of the Bell and Agusta Bell helicopters. Failing to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in serious safety risks, as evidenced by an incident where a cyclic control stick failed during pre-flight checks due to the issues highlighted. Non-compliance with these directives may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could result in legal and safety repercussions. The regulatory framework imposes a clear obligation on operators to adhere to the specified inspection and maintenance intervals to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these helicopters. In terms of penalties and consequences, while the specific legislative instrument does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 may apply. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions, including fines, grounding of the aircraft, and potential criminal charges for operators who fail to meet their obligations. The severity of the penalties would depend on the extent of the non-compliance and any resulting harm or risk to aviation safety.