AD/BELL 212/57 - Hydraulic Servo Actuator Shoulder Bolt

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to ensure the safety and integrity of civil aviation. This legislative instrument, AD/BELL 212/57, was introduced to address a safety concern related to Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters, particularly those with hydraulic servo actuator shoulder bolts that may have been overhauled or repaired by unauthorised facilities. The primary objective of this regulation is to mandate inspections and necessary actions to mitigate potential safety risks associated with these components. The requirement is that inspections and any needed actions must be completed within 25 hours of the helicopter being in service from 7 December 1995 or by 31 January 1996, whichever comes first. This directive aims to ensure compliance with safety standards and prevent any potential hazards arising from unauthorised repairs.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as outlined in the legislative instrument F2006B04589, apply specifically to the Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters, with serial numbers ranging from 30501 through 30999, 31110 through 31311, 32101 through 32142, and 35001 through 35089. These helicopters must comply with Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 212/57 concerning the hydraulic servo actuator shoulder bolt, particularly if they have undergone servo overhaul or repair by facilities not approved by Bell Textron. This directive aims to ensure safety by requiring an inspection of the shoulder bolts for potential unauthorized chrome plating. The requirement to comply with this directive must be met within 25 hours of time in service from 7 December 1995 or by 31 January 1996, whichever is earlier. This legislative instrument is a Commonwealth regulation, extending its jurisdiction across Australia and applying uniformly to all entities and operators of the specified helicopter models within the nation's airspace.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, with AD/BELL 212/57 being one of the specific directives (section 1). This directive is specifically concerned with the hydraulic servo actuator shoulder bolts of the Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters, and it applies to those with certain serial numbers that have undergone servicing by non-approved facilities (section 2). The requirement is that if the specified action, as outlined in Bell ASB 212-95-98 Revision A, has not already been taken, an inspection must be conducted on these shoulder bolts for any signs of unauthorised chrome plating (section 3). The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and must be adhered to by the relevant parties. Operators of Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters must ensure that an inspection of the specified shoulder bolts is conducted within the stipulated timeframe. The inspection must ascertain whether the bolts have been chrome-plated without proper authorisation, which could compromise the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft (section 4). Compliance with this directive is mandatory, and failure to do so could result in significant safety risks. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/BELL 212/57 can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority may impose penalties for non-compliance, which could include fines or other enforcement actions. Additionally, if non-compliance leads to an incident or accident, the consequences could be much more severe, potentially resulting in criminal charges against the operator or the individual responsible for ensuring compliance (section 5). The exact penalties are not specified in the legislative instrument but can be severe given the potential impact on aviation safety.