Overview

The Commonwealth of Australia's Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, introduced the Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 222/20 to address safety concerns regarding the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series helicopters. This legislative instrument was enacted to ensure the safety of all BHTC Model 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters by mandating rigorous inspections and maintenance procedures for the main rotor grip and flapping bearing assembly. The directive was issued in response to reports of fatigue cracks at bolt holes of the main rotor pitch horn and in the flapping bearing assembly, which were traced back to fretting points caused by loss of torque on the bolts. The policy objective of this directive is to prevent further incidents by requiring visual inspections and verification of bolt torque, with specific emphasis on applying corrosion preventive compounds to exposed portions of the bolts and nuts. This airworthiness directive was enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and became effective on 7 August 1998. It requires compliance within 10 hours of time in service after this date, ensuring that any identified issues are addressed promptly. The directive references Bell Component Repair and Overhaul Manual, Volume 2, for mechanical and corrosion limits and also notes Transport Canada AD CF-98-16 for additional context. The overarching goal is to maintain the airworthiness of the specified helicopter models, thereby enhancing safety standards in Australian civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates stringent maintenance and inspection procedures for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters. This legislation applies directly to all helicopters of these models, requiring operators and maintenance personnel to conduct a thorough visual inspection of the main rotor hub to identify any signs of fretting between the pitch horn and grip tangs, as well as between the flapping bearing assemblies and the main rotor yoke assembly. The regulations also mandate a verification of the torque of the retaining bolts, with specific instructions provided in the Bell Alert Service Bulletin. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with inspections to be carried out within 10 hours of time in service after 8 July 1998, following the directive's effective date of 7 August 1998. The directive references Transport Canada AD CF-98-16 and notes the importance of applying corrosion preventive compound to exposed bolts and nuts.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which pertains to the maintenance and safety standards for certain aircraft. The relevant directive AD/BELL 222/20 concerns the main rotor grip and flapping bearing assembly of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters. This directive became effective from 7 August 1998 and requires specific inspections and maintenance actions to ensure airworthiness. The main operative sections of this directive require operators to visually inspect the main rotor hub for signs of fretting between the pitch horn and grip tangs and between the flapping bearing assemblies and the main rotor yoke assembly (Section 1). Additionally, operators must verify the torque of the retaining bolts on the main rotor grips and flapping bearing assemblies as specified in the relevant Bell Alert Service Bulletin (Section 1). If any bolt does not reach the required torque of 100 foot pounds (136 Nm), it is necessary to remove the pitch horn or flapping bearing for further inspection and possible repair before further flights. Furthermore, operators must apply a corrosion preventive compound to the exposed portions of the bolts and nuts (Section 1). Operators of these helicopters are obligated to comply with the inspection and maintenance requirements set out in the directive. Specifically, these inspections and any necessary repairs must be carried out within 10 hours of time in service after 7 August 1998 unless already completed. This ensures that the aircraft meet the required safety standards and that any potential issues are addressed promptly. Failure to comply with the requirements of this airworthiness directive can have serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline various civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. Civil penalties may include fines and other administrative actions, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court, but they are intended to enforce compliance with safety standards to protect the public and ensure the safe operation of aircraft.