AD/BELL 214/5 State of Design Airworthiness Directives

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2018L00492 In force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

AD/BELL 214/5 – State of Design Airworthiness Directives

Legislation

Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation relating to safety, amongst other things. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), CASA may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product.

Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type, and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information, and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.

The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. Regulation 39.001A of CASR 1998, defines “airworthiness directive” to include Foreign State of Design ADs issued on or after 1 October 2009. Accordingly, when a Foreign State of Design issues an AD for a type of aircraft on the Australian Register, that AD applies to Australian aircraft. However, CASA may grant an exclusion from the AD or approve an acceptable means of compliance other than that set out in the AD.

The United States of America Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have issued the following ADs to correct various unsafe conditions on Bell Helicopter Textron 214B and Bell 214B-1 helicopters. The United States is the State of Design for these helicopters.

AD Number Effective Date Title

77-03-04 14/02/1977 Fuselage Splice Fitting
78-08-08 21/04/1978 Tail Fin Spar
81-02-10 26/01/1981 Clutch Assembly
81-12-03 11/06/1981 Spindle Retention Bolts
82-06-07 12/04/1982 Tail Rotor Yoke - Fatigue Failure
T84-05-51 27/02/1984 Collective Sleeves
86-20-06 18/10/1986 Main Rotor Drag Brace Assembly
97-06-02 16/04/1997 Lower Planetary Spider - Retirement Life
98-18-01 29/09/1998 Main Rotor Trunnion - Retirement Life
 

AD Number Effective Date Title

98-23-18 30/11/1998 Kaynar Tech. Manufactured Barrel Nuts
99-05-07 03/05/1999 Pillow Block Bearing Bolts - Retirement Life

As there is a Bell 214B-1 helicopter on the Australian aircraft register, and as the above-listed FAA ADs pre-date the automatic acceptance of foreign State of Design ADs under Part 39 of CASR, CASA has issued AD/BELL 214/5 to mandate the requirements of these FAA ADs, as in force at the date of issue of AD/BELL 214/5.

The FAA ADs listed above are freely available from the FAA’s website at the following internet address:

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/Frameset?OpenPage

Consultation

As this AD is being made in accordance with CASA’s obligations under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, it is CASA’s view that it was not necessary or appropriate to undertake any further consultation under section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003.

Regulation Impact Statement

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation under which a RIS is not required for ADs (OBPR id. 14507).

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

Making and commencement

The AD has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.

The instrument commences on 27 April 2018.

[Instrument number AD/BELL 214/5]


Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

AD/BELL 214/5 – State of Design Airworthiness Directives

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the legislative instrument

The legislative instrument is an airworthiness directive (AD). AD/BELL 214/5 has been issued to mandate the requirements of eleven FAA ADs applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron 214B and 214B-1 helicopters in accordance with CASA’s obligations under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia, implementing the Convention on International Civil Aviation and other international agreements. The Civil Aviation Act 1988, passed by the Australian Parliament, provides the framework for regulating civil aviation safety and includes provisions for the creation of regulations such as airworthiness directives. AD/BELL 214/5, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, addresses the need to mandate the requirements of existing United States Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directives for Bell Helicopter Textron 214B and 214B-1 helicopters registered in Australia. This ensures compliance with international standards for the continuing airworthiness of aircraft, fulfilling Australia's obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The directive was made to align with CASA's responsibilities under Annex 8 of the Convention, and no further consultation was deemed necessary. The directive commenced on 27 April 2018, and a Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights has been provided, confirming the instrument's alignment with human rights obligations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, empower the Governor-General to make regulations to ensure compliance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation, particularly concerning safety. This includes the authority for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (AD) for aircraft types and aeronautical products. AD/BELL 214/5 pertains specifically to Bell Helicopter Textron 214B and 214B-1 helicopters registered in Australia, mandating the requirements of certain US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directives issued prior to the automatic acceptance of foreign State of Design ADs under CASR. This directive applies to all such helicopters registered in Australia, ensuring they meet the safety standards outlined by the FAA. CASA, as the regulatory body, retains the ability to grant exclusions or approve alternative means of compliance where appropriate. This legislative instrument is made in accordance with CASA's obligations under the Convention and does not necessitate further consultation or a Regulation Impact Statement, as it is covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation. The directive, issued under the authority of CASA and commencing on 27 April 2018, aligns with human rights as it does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of AD/BELL 214/5 (paragraph 1) detail the circumstances under which it applies, specifically focusing on mandating the requirements of eleven FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) for Bell Helicopter Textron 214B and 214B-1 helicopters. This AD is issued to ensure compliance with CASA's obligations under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (paragraph 2). The AD applies to any Bell 214B-1 helicopter on the Australian aircraft register, necessitating adherence to the FAA ADs listed in the document (paragraph 3). These FAA ADs, which address various unsafe conditions, are detailed in the explanatory statement, and their specific requirements must be met by those affected by the AD (paragraph 4). The obligations and requirements imposed by AD/BELL 214/5 (paragraph 5) include compliance with the FAA ADs listed, which pertain to critical safety aspects such as fuselage splice fittings, tail fin spar, clutch assembly, and other components (paragraph 6). Operators and owners of Bell 214B-1 helicopters must ensure that their aircraft meet these requirements, which are intended to address identified unsafe conditions and maintain airworthiness (paragraph 7). CASA may grant exclusions from specific ADs or approve alternative means of compliance, providing some flexibility while maintaining overall safety standards (paragraph 8). AD/BELL 214/5 includes provisions for offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach (paragraph 9). Non-compliance with the mandated FAA ADs can result in enforcement actions by CASA, which may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory measures (paragraph 10). The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the explanatory statement but are governed by the broader regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (paragraph 11). These potential consequences underscore the importance of adhering to the AD to ensure the safety and airworthiness of affected aircraft (paragraph 12).

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.