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 issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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 407/19 Tail Rotor Gearbox 5/2002
Applicability: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 407 Helicopters.
Requirement: Remove the tail rotor gearbox and carry out re-installation as per Part 1 of BHTC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 407-97-14 Revision C.
Note 1: Canadian AD CF-1998-09 R1 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, within 300 hours since the last 300 hour inspection, but no later than 27 December 2002.
Note 2: Helicopter S/N 53505 and subsequent may have been completed at manufacture.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 16 May 2002.
Background: The nuts that attach the tail rotor gearbox to the tailboom have been found loose. It is believed to be an installation issue. BHTC has developed a new procedure for installation with a specific torque check procedure. The new procedure supersedes that detailed in the original issue of ASB 407-97-14. AD/BELL/407/4 has been cancelled.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 April 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 April 2002.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, form a critical part of the legislative framework governing aviation safety in Australia, with specific attention to the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. Enacted by the Australian Government, this legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent safety regulations to protect public safety in civil aviation. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) operates under the authority of this Act, issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure that aircraft and aeronautical products meet necessary safety standards. An example of such an AD is AD/BELL 407/19, issued on 7 April 2002, addressing an issue with the tail rotor gearbox of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 407 Helicopters. The directive mandates the removal and re-installation of the tail rotor gearbox as per a revised procedure, responding to a discovered safety issue where the nuts attaching the gearbox to the tailboom were found to be loose, potentially due to installation errors. This AD aims to correct the unsafe condition and ensure compliance with safety standards within specified timeframes.
Scope and Application
This legislative instrument, specifically the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 407/19, applies to all Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 407 Helicopters operating within the jurisdiction of the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The AD mandates the removal and re-installation of the tail rotor gearbox in accordance with Part 1 of BHTC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 407-97-14 Revision C, addressing an issue of loose nuts attaching the tail rotor gearbox to the tailboom, believed to be an installation problem. The requirement for compliance must be met within 300 hours since the last 300-hour inspection, but no later than 27 December 2002, unless the specific helicopter serial number 53505 and subsequent have already had this procedure performed during manufacture. The AD became effective on 16 May 2002 and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 April 2002, extending its reach across all relevant aircraft within Australia's jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined in Part 39, 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) mandates specific actions for the maintenance and operation of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 407 helicopters (section 39.1(1)). This AD, identified as AD/BELL 407/19, pertains to the tail rotor gearbox and specifies that it must be removed and reinstalled following the procedures detailed in Part 1 of BHTC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 407-97-14 Revision C (Applicability and Requirement sections). The directive applies to all BHTC Model 407 helicopters and requires compliance within a specified timeframe, which is within 300 hours from the last 300-hour inspection, but no later than 27 December 2002 (Compliance section). Notably, helicopters with serial number 53505 and subsequent may have already been addressed during manufacture.
The AD imposes clear obligations on operators of the affected helicopters. They must ensure that the tail rotor gearbox is removed and reinstalled according to the revised installation procedures as specified in ASB 407-97-14 Revision C. This involves following the detailed instructions provided by BHTC to address the installation issue that has caused the nuts attaching the tail rotor gearbox to the tailboom to become loose. The AD is designed to enhance the safety of these helicopters by correcting a potential installation defect that could lead to operational hazards.
Failure to comply with this AD can result in serious consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the AD itself, non-compliance with ADs generally may lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. Operators are therefore obligated to ensure strict adherence to the AD to avoid such adverse outcomes. The directive underscores the importance of timely and accurate maintenance actions to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft involved.