COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 222/18
Amdt 3
Tail Rotor Blades 3/97
Applicability: Models 222, 222B, 222U, and 230, with tail rotor blades P/N 222-016-001-101,-107,
-111, -113, -115 and -119.
Requirement: 1. Inspect in accordance with Bell Helicopter Alert SBs 222-95-76 Rev B, 222U-95- 47 Rev B, and 230-95-8 Rev B until completion of Requirement 2.
2. Remove from service, those tail rotor blades listed in the Applicability statement, and install tail rotor blades P/N 222-016-001-123 or -127, or higher dash number. This terminates the repetitive inspection requirement.
Note: DoT Canada AD CF-96-03R2 refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless already accomplished, prior to further flight after 24 July 1996, thereafter inspect at intervals not exceeding three hours time in service until replacement.
This part of the Directive must be entered onto the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. Following the initial inspection, Accomplishment Instructions Section 1. of the Requirement document inspections may be performed by the pilot in command, in which case a certification is to be made by entering AD/BELL 222/18 Amdt 3 against the Daily Inspection certification on the Maintenance Release. A copy of this Directive and of the Requirement document must be carried in the aircraft.
2. Before 31 March 1997.
This Amendment becomes effective on 27 February 1997.
Background: The manufacturer has reported incidents, one of which resulted in an in-flight failure of a tail rotor blade. Investigation has revealed fatigue cracking originating from sanding marks on the stainless steel skin.
Amendment 1 was issued to provide terminating action for the Directive.
Amendment 2 included in the Applicability for continuing inspection, the blades originally thought to provide terminating action in the previous issue. Blades suitable for terminating action will be advised in a subsequent amendment.
Amendment 3 provides terminating action for the Directive.
Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 24 July 1996. Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 28 February 1996.
The initial issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 22 November 1995.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, form a crucial framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations within the country. Part 39 of these regulations, specifically Section 105, incorporates the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which mandates strict compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness. One such directive, AD/BELL 222/18 Amendment 3, addresses a critical safety issue identified with the tail rotor blades of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters. This directive was introduced to address the problem of fatigue cracking in the tail rotor blades, which originated from sanding marks on the stainless steel skin, following reported incidents, one of which resulted in an in-flight failure. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring the replacement of the problematic tail rotor blades and implementing an inspection regime to prevent future incidents.
The Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 222/18 Amendment 3, effective from 27 February 1997, applies to models 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 of the Bell Helicopter fleet, specifically those equipped with particular tail rotor blades part numbers. The directive requires operators to inspect the blades according to specified Bell Helicopter Service Bulletins until they replace the affected blades with newer models. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with inspections required at intervals not exceeding three hours of flight time until the replacement is completed. The directive mandates that a copy of the directive and the requirement document must be carried in the aircraft, and the directive must be recorded on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The objective is to ensure that these safety measures are adhered to, thereby mitigating the risk of in-flight failures and ensuring the continued safety of civil aviation operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) concerning the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters, with a focus on the AD/BELL 222/18 Amendment 3 which pertains to the tail rotor blades. This directive applies to models 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 with specific part numbers of tail rotor blades identified in the applicability statement. The directive mandates that these helicopters be inspected in accordance with Bell Helicopter Service Bulletins and removed from service if the specified tail rotor blades are found, requiring the installation of new blades with higher part numbers to terminate the repetitive inspection requirement. Compliance with these directives is critical, as the manufacturer reported incidents including in-flight failures of tail rotor blades due to fatigue cracking originating from sanding marks on the stainless steel skin. This directive becomes effective on 27 February 1997, with specific compliance dates outlined for inspections and replacements. The regulation extends its reach nationally, impacting all entities and individuals operating the specified helicopter models within Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in PART 39 - 105, mandate the inspection and replacement of certain tail rotor blades on Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters, as outlined in AD/BELL 222/18 Amendment 3. This directive applies to models 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 with particular tail rotor blade part numbers (section 1). The primary requirement (section 1) involves inspecting these blades in accordance with specified Bell Helicopter Service Bulletins until the replacement process is complete. Once the inspection is done, the identified tail rotor blades must be removed and replaced with blades bearing certain part numbers, which will terminate the requirement for repetitive inspections.
Compliance with the AD/BELL 222/18 Amendment 3 involves stringent adherence to the inspection and replacement schedule. Operators must ensure inspections are performed prior to further flight after 24 July 1996, with subsequent inspections occurring at intervals not exceeding three hours of time in service until replacement is completed (section 1). The pilot in command can perform the inspections, in which case a certification must be documented on the Maintenance Release. Additionally, a copy of the Directive and the Requirement document must be kept on board the aircraft at all times. The replacement of the specified blades must be completed before 31 March 1997 (section 1). Failure to comply with these requirements can result in the aircraft being grounded, as this directive must be logged as maintenance required on the Maintenance Release.
Breach of the provisions outlined in the AD/BELL 222/18 Amendment 3 could lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce penalties and sanctions for non-compliance. Civil penalties may include fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges can be pursued. The exact penalties are determined by CASA based on the severity and impact of the breach, but they can be substantial, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring aviation safety. Therefore, it is imperative for operators to meticulously follow the directives to avoid any legal repercussions and ensure the safety of their operations.