AD/BELL 222/6 Amdt 1 - Directional Hydraulic Actuator P/N 222-382-002-101

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Australian Government to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. The specific legislative instrument F2006B04621, which pertains to Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations, introduces Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address identified safety issues in aircraft. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain the highest standards of airworthiness and operational safety by mandating compliance with specified safety measures. This legislative instrument was introduced to address a problem concerning the loss of directional control in certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series helicopters, particularly during hover taxiing, due to a failure in the directional hydraulic actuator. The Australian Parliament enacted these regulations to ensure that all affected aircraft meet the necessary safety standards before being issued a Certificate of Airworthiness. The specific Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 222/6Amdt 1, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), requires corrective action for model 222 and 222B helicopters with certain serial numbers, as well as model 222U helicopters within specified serial ranges, to prevent the rod end bearing from pulling out of the hydraulic actuator piston rod. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, ensuring that the affected aircraft are safe to operate by rectifying the identified safety issue. This legislative measure aims to enhance the overall safety and reliability of civil aviation operations within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, governs the airworthiness directives under the oversight of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia. This regulatory framework mandates that certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series helicopters, identified by specific serial numbers, must adhere to particular safety directives. For instance, the directive AD/BELL 222/6 Amendment 1 pertains to the directional hydraulic actuator of model 222 helicopters with serial numbers 47008 to 47089, model 222B helicopters with serial numbers 47131 to 47148, and model 222U helicopters with serial numbers 47501 to 47555. Compliance with Bell Alert Service Bulletins 222-85-32 Rev A for models 222 and 222B, and Bell Alert Service Bulletin 222U-85-7 Rev A for model 222U is required before a Certificate of Airworthiness is issued. The directive was prompted by an incident where a model 222U lost directional control during hover taxiing due to the tail rotor control failure, attributed to the rod end bearing pulling out of the hydraulic actuator piston rod. The regulation ensures that these safety measures are implemented to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The applicability of these regulations extends only to the specified helicopter models and serial numbers, with no broader application to other aircraft or entities. While the regulation itself sets out the specific requirements, CASA may further refine or extend the application through subordinate instruments or additional directives, ensuring that the aviation safety standards are consistently upheld across the specified fleet.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, address the safety requirements for specific aircraft, in this case, the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters. Specifically, AD/BELL 222/6 Amendment 1 mandates actions concerning the directional hydraulic actuator for certain model 222 helicopters. According to section (2), this directive applies to all model 222 helicopters with serial numbers ranging from 47008 to 47089, model 222B helicopters with serial numbers from 47131 to 47148, and model 222U helicopters with serial numbers from 47501 to 47555. These helicopters must comply with the requirements set out in either Bell Alert Service Bulletin 222-85-32 Rev A for models 222 and 222B, or Bell Alert Service Bulletin 222U-85-7 Rev A for model 222U. The action must be taken before a Certificate of Airworthiness is issued, ensuring that the helicopters meet the necessary safety standards before being allowed to fly. The background provided indicates that this directive was prompted by an incident where a model 222U helicopter lost directional control during hover taxiing due to a failure in the tail rotor control, specifically the rod end bearing pulling out of the hydraulic actuator piston rod. Entities governed by these regulations, including helicopter manufacturers, operators, and maintenance providers, must ensure that the specified actions are carried out to comply with the safety bulletins. This involves inspecting, repairing, or replacing parts as outlined in the relevant service bulletins to prevent similar incidents. The compliance must be verified and documented to meet the regulatory requirements before the aircraft can be certified as airworthy. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious safety risks and potential legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties in this context but violations of safety directives can result in severe repercussions. These may include the grounding of the aircraft, fines, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to an accident. The severity of penalties can depend on the extent of the non-compliance and the resulting impact on safety.