Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) form a crucial part of the legislative framework governing aviation safety in Australia. Enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, the Regulations provide the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) with the authority to issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure that aircraft and aeronautical products are maintained in a safe condition. AD/BELL 222/27, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, specifically targets the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada models 222, 222B, and 222U with IFR kits, addressing the issue of adjustable stop screws in the Memcor Truohm magnetic brake potentially backing out, which could compromise flight control. This directive mandates a one-time inspection and repair as necessary, aiming to rectify unsafe conditions and ensure continued airworthiness in alignment with the policy objective of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada models 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters equipped with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) kits part number 222-70-013. The directive mandates a one-time inspection and necessary repairs as stipulated in Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletins 222-01-87 or 222U-01-58 to address an unsafe condition involving adjustable stop screws in the magnetic brake manufactured by Memcor Truohm. This unsafe condition could potentially lead to limited travel of the flight controls, posing a risk to flight safety. Compliance with this AD is required unless the specified action has already been completed within 100 flight hours from the effective date of the directive, which is 28 November 2002. The AD extends across the Commonwealth of Australia and is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 November 2002, ensuring its legal enforceability and reach.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, establish an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for specific models of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters (section 1). The AD, numbered AD/BELL 222/27, pertains to the Memcor Truohm Magnetic Brake with part number 222-70-013 and addresses an issue where adjustable stop screws in the magnetic switch may back out, potentially limiting the travel of the arm assembly on the magnetic brake and affecting flight control (section 2). This directive applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada models 222, 222B, and 222U that have the specified IFR kits installed (section 3). The AD mandates a one-time inspection and repair if necessary, following instructions detailed in Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin 222-01-87 or 222U-01-58 (section 4). The compliance requirement stipulates that this action must be undertaken unless it has already been completed within 100 flight hours from the effective date of this directive (section 5). The directive became effective on 28 November 2002 (section 6). The obligations imposed by this AD on the relevant parties include ensuring that the specified models of helicopters undergo the necessary inspection and repair as outlined. Operators and owners of the affected helicopters must ensure that the AD is complied with within the stipulated timeframe to maintain airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with the directive may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and further regulatory actions. In terms of penalties and consequences, while the AD itself does not specify explicit penalties, failure to comply with ADs generally can result in severe civil and criminal consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. This includes fines and imprisonment, as well as potential grounding of the aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) retains the authority to enforce compliance through various means, including inspections, audits, and legal proceedings.