AD/BELL 214/8 Hub Locking Plates

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

Legislation au F2018L01006 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

AD/BELL 214/8 – Hub Locking Plates

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) issued AD 87‑11-06 affecting Bell Helicopter Textron 214 series helicopters in 1987. The United States is the State of Design for these helicopters. As there is a Bell 214 series helicopter on the Australian aircraft register, and as FAA AD 87-11-06 pre-dates the automatic acceptance of foreign State of Design ADs under Part 39 of CASR, CASA has issued AD/BELL 214/8 to mandate the requirements of FAA AD 87-11-06, as in force at the date of issue of AD/BELL 214/8.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Technical documents referred to in this AD are proprietary, copyright, fee-for-service documents, prepared on a commercial basis. They may be purchased from the aircraft or component manufacturer by subscription.

 

As a matter of practicality, it would not be possible for aircraft operators to operate aircraft in Australian and foreign airspace without having their own subscription access to relevant aircraft or engine manufacturer documentation, such as the Service Bulletins. Nevertheless, as a current subscriber for the documents, CASA will make the relevant sections of the incorporated documents available, in its Canberra or regional offices, by arrangement, and, in keeping with the proprietary nature of the documents, for viewing only, to any aircraft operator who is affected by the direction instrument, or to any interested person.

FAA AD 87-11-06 is 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 10 July 2018.

[Instrument number AD/BELL 214/8]


Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

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

AD/BELL 214/8 – Hub Locking Plates

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 214/8 has been issued to mandate the requirements of FAA AD 87-11-06, applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron 214 series 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, enacted by the Australian Parliament, establish regulations to ensure the safety of civil aviation. One such regulation, AD/BELL 214/8, addresses the issue of hub locking plates on Bell Helicopter Textron 214 series helicopters. This airworthiness directive was introduced to mandate the requirements of the United States Federal Aviation Administration's AD 87-11-06, which was issued in 1987. Given that there is a Bell 214 series helicopter on the Australian aircraft register and the original FAA AD predates the automatic acceptance of foreign State of Design ADs under Part 39 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, CASA issued AD/BELL 214/8 to ensure compliance with international safety standards. The policy objective of this directive is to maintain the continuing airworthiness of aircraft registered in Australia, aligning with Australia's obligations under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Scope and Application

The AD/BELL 214/8 is an airworthiness directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. It applies to Bell Helicopter Textron 214 series helicopters that are registered in Australia. This AD mandates the requirements of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 87-11-06, which was issued in 1987. As the United States is the State of Design for these helicopters, the AD ensures that the safety standards set out in the FAA directive are met by Australian operators. CASA has the discretion to grant exclusions or approve alternative means of compliance under the regulations. The directive applies nationally across Australia and is issued under the authority of the Governor-General, aligning with international safety standards as per the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The AD became effective on 10 July 2018, and its issuance reflects CASA's commitment to maintaining the continuing airworthiness of aircraft within its jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, particularly under regulation 39.001, provide the authority for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (AD). These directives are essential for ensuring the continuing airworthiness of aircraft registered in Australia. AD/BELL 214/8 is a specific airworthiness directive issued by CASA to mandate the requirements of a corresponding Foreign Airworthiness Directive (FAD) issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron 214 series helicopters registered in Australia, ensuring that they meet the necessary safety standards as specified by FAA AD 87-11-06. This AD is crucial as it mandates compliance with safety requirements set by the FAA for these helicopters, ensuring that they remain airworthy when operating in Australian and international airspace. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs. Primarily, it requires aircraft operators to comply with the requirements set out in FAA AD 87-11-06, which includes, but is not limited to, specific maintenance actions related to the hub locking plates of Bell Helicopter Textron 214 series helicopters. Operators must adhere to the timelines and procedures outlined in the FAA AD to ensure the safety and airworthiness of their aircraft. CASA, as the regulatory authority, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with this directive. Operators must also ensure that all maintenance and modifications are performed by qualified personnel and documented appropriately. Additionally, CASA may grant an exclusion from the AD or approve an acceptable means of compliance other than that set out in the AD, providing some flexibility in compliance. Breaches of the AD/BELL 214/8 could lead to various civil and criminal consequences. The Civil Aviation Act 1988, under which this AD is issued, includes provisions for penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. The maximum penalties for contravening an AD can be significant, including fines and imprisonment. Specifically, under section 97 of the Act, a person who contravenes an AD can be fined up to 5,000 penalty units or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the safety requirements set out in the AD to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, as well as the integrity of the aviation system. CASA is also empowered to take enforcement actions, such as grounding non-compliant aircraft or imposing other regulatory measures, to ensure compliance with the AD.

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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.