AD/BELL 212/50 - Swashplate Support

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through legislative instrument F2006B04582, address specific safety concerns related to the airworthiness of Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series helicopters. This piece of legislation was introduced to address the problem of incorrectly machined swashplate support assemblies, which posed a risk to the operational safety of these aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Australian Parliament, implemented this directive to ensure compliance with safety standards and to mitigate potential risks associated with the identified defect. The policy objective is to mandate corrective actions to ensure the safety of all affected helicopters, as outlined in the directive, within a specified timeframe. This measure aims to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation and prevent any potential operational hazards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters specifically targets all model 212 helicopters that are fitted with swashplate support part number 204-011-404-125. This legislation applies at a Commonwealth level, as it is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which operates under the auspices of the Australian Government. The directive mandates that the action outlined in Bell Alert Service Bulletin 212-91-72 be implemented. Compliance with this directive is required within 25 hours of time in service after 30 April 1992, following the identification of a manufacturing defect involving approximately 156 swashplate support assemblies that were incorrectly machined with oversize holes. The directive does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, and it extends its reach to all applicable aircraft within the specified timeframe, ensuring safety and airworthiness standards are maintained across the industry.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 (AD/BELL 212/50), sets out an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters. This directive pertains to the swashplate support component with part number 204-011-404-125 (Section 2). The AD mandates that the action detailed in Bell Alert Service Bulletin 212-91-72 must be followed, with reference to FAA AD 92-07-08 amendment 39-8204 (Section 3). The requirement is that the specified action must be undertaken within 25 hours of the helicopter being in service after 30 April 1992 (Section 4). The directive is applicable to all model 212 helicopters that are fitted with the specified swashplate support (Section 5). Compliance with this directive is mandatory for all operators of the affected helicopters. Operators must ensure that the swashplate support assemblies are inspected and, if necessary, replaced or repaired according to the instructions provided in the Bell Alert Service Bulletin. The directive makes it clear that any swashplate support assemblies with oversize holes in the two outboard lugs are not acceptable and must be replaced to ensure the continued airworthiness of the helicopter (Section 6). Operators must maintain records of compliance with this AD and make these records available upon request by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (Section 7). Failure to comply with the AD/BELL 212/50 directive can result in serious safety implications. The AD is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Specifically, operators who do not adhere to the directive may face administrative penalties, including fines. In severe cases, CASA may take action to suspend or revoke the helicopter's certificate of airworthiness, effectively grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Additionally, operators who knowingly allow a non-compliant helicopter to fly could be subject to criminal charges, with potential penalties including imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of airworthiness compliance (Section 8).