COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 407/15 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 407 Series Helicopters
AD/BELL 407/15
Amdt 1
Engine to Transmission Shaft 7/2002
Applicability: Bell 407 series helicopters, serial numbers 53000 through 53509 incorporating an engine to transmission drive shaft part number (P/N) 206-340-300-105.
Requirement: Replace drive shaft assembly P/N 206-340-300-105 in accordance with Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Number 407-01-45 Revision A.
Note: Transport Canada Airworthiness Directive CF-2002-03R2 refers.
Compliance: With a revised effective date of 11 July 2002; replace drive shaft assembly P/N 206- 340-300-105 in accordance with the compliance schedule detailed in Bell Helicopter Textron ASB 407-01-45 Revision A.
This amendment becomes effective on 11 July 2002.
Background: This Directive was originally issued to require a one time visual inspection of the engine to transmission drive shaft following reports of cracks being found in the shaft flex frame. This amendment provides a terminating action by requiring P/N 206-340- 300-105 shafts to be replaced with a P/N 206-340-300-107 drive shaft. The replacement shaft has an overhaul period of 1,250 hours and a life limit of 5,000 hours.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 6 September 2001.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 29 May 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for civil aviation safety within the country. The legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products, as well as to protect the public and enhance the efficiency of civil aviation operations. One specific aspect of this regulatory framework is the Airworthiness Directives, which are issued to address identified safety issues or to mandate corrective actions to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft. The Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 407/15 Amendment 1, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, is an example of such measures. This directive, aimed at addressing a specific safety concern with the Bell 407 series helicopters, requires the replacement of a particular engine to transmission drive shaft assembly to mitigate the risk of cracking, thereby ensuring the continued safe operation of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to all Bell 407 series helicopters within the specified serial number range that incorporate a particular engine to transmission drive shaft part number. This directive mandates the replacement of the drive shaft assembly P/N 206-340-300-105 in accordance with Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin Number 407-01-45 Revision A. The requirement necessitates compliance with the stipulated instructions and timeline, with the revised effective date set for 11 July 2002. This amendment terminates the original directive's requirement for a one-time visual inspection and instead mandates the replacement of the identified drive shaft assembly to address reports of cracks in the shaft flex frame. The new directive aligns with the corresponding Transport Canada Airworthiness Directive CF-2002-03R2, ensuring a standardised approach to addressing the identified safety issue across jurisdictions.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains specifically to the Bell 407 series helicopters with serial numbers ranging from 53000 to 53509, equipped with an engine to transmission drive shaft part number 206-340-300-105 (section 1). The directive mandates the replacement of the drive shaft assembly P/N 206-340-300-105 as per Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Number 407-01-45 Revision A (section 2). The directive has been updated to change the initial visual inspection requirement to a replacement mandate, effective from 11 July 2002 (section 3).
Operators of the affected Bell 407 series helicopters must adhere to the directive by replacing the specified drive shaft assembly in accordance with the instructions provided in the referenced Bell Helicopter Textron ASB. This obligation ensures that the identified unsafe condition, related to potential cracks in the shaft flex frame, is corrected to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (section 4). The compliance with this directive is non-negotiable and must be strictly followed to maintain operational safety standards.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive could result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to impose penalties for non-compliance, which could include fines or other legal actions. Additionally, operating an aircraft that does not meet the airworthiness standards set by the directive can lead to grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are completed. The seriousness of these potential consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the directive to ensure safety and compliance with aviation regulations (section 5).