COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety 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 CASR 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 407/26 Landing Gear Cross Tubes 5/2004
Applicability: All Model 407 helicopters.
Note: This Directive applies to both Bell Helicopter cross tube assemblies and BHT’s approved production and spare alternate cross tube assemblies from Aeronautical Accessories Incorporated (AAI) that are listed in Chapter 4 of the Maintenance Manual.
Requirement: Create a historical service record for each identified cross tube assembly indicating the new airworthiness life of 5,000 RIN, and assign a RIN to each existing and new cross tube assembly, in accordance with BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 407-03-59, dated 15 October 2003.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-2004-03 refers.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 13 May 2004 or before 30 June 2004, whichever occurs first, unless already accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 13 May 2004.
Background: The manufacturer has determined that run-on landings impose a high stress on landing gear cross tubes. A run-on landing is defined by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) as one where the forward ground travel after ground contact of the helicopter is greater than three (3) feet with weight on the skids. To prevent possible cross tube failure BHTC has introduced the life limitation of 5,000 RIN (Retirement Index Number).
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, amended by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Amendment) (No. 3) 2004, introduces an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the landing gear cross tubes of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 407 Series Helicopters. This legislation was introduced to address the issue of potential cross tube failure resulting from high stress imposed by run-on landings. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate issued the AD to ensure corrective action is taken to maintain airworthiness standards. The policy objective of this AD is to mitigate the risk of cross tube failure by imposing a life limitation of 5,000 Retirement Index Numbers (RIN) on the landing gear cross tubes, as outlined in BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 407-03-59. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 13 May 2004 or before 30 June 2004, whichever occurs first.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) form a critical framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia, with Part 39 encompassing Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The particular Airworthiness Directive AD/BELL 407/26 targets all Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 407 Series Helicopters, mandating specific actions to address identified safety concerns with landing gear cross tubes. This directive applies to both original equipment manufactured by Bell Helicopter and approved spares from Aeronautical Accessories Incorporated (AAI), as listed in the Maintenance Manual. The requirement outlined in the directive necessitates the creation of a historical service record for each cross tube assembly, assigning a Retirement Index Number (RIN) with a new airworthiness life of 5,000 RIN to prevent potential failures resulting from high-stress run-on landings. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 13 May 2004 or before 30 June 2004, whichever occurs first, unless already completed. This directive is a direct response to findings by the manufacturer highlighting the risk of cross tube failure due to the stress imposed by run-on landings, thereby underscoring the regulatory commitment to maintaining high safety standards within the aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under Part 39, Section 105, outlines the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, AD/BELL 407/26 mandates actions regarding the landing gear cross tubes of all Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 407 Series Helicopters, effective from 13 May 2004. This directive is crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of these helicopters, particularly in relation to the stress imposed by run-on landings.
The main requirement of the AD (section 105) is the creation of a historical service record for each identified cross tube assembly. This record must indicate a new airworthiness life of 5,000 Retirement Index Numbers (RIN). Additionally, each existing and new cross tube assembly must be assigned a RIN, in accordance with BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 407-03-59 dated 15 October 2003. This action is necessary to ensure that the cross tubes do not fail due to the stresses from run-on landings, which are defined by BHTC as landings where the forward ground travel after ground contact exceeds three feet with weight on the skids.
Operators and maintenance personnel of the affected helicopters are obligated to comply with the AD by creating the necessary historical service records and assigning the RINs within 100 hours of time in service after 13 May 2004, or before 30 June 2004, whichever comes first. This directive applies to both Bell Helicopter cross tube assemblies and those produced by Aeronautical Accessories Incorporated (AAI), as listed in Chapter 4 of the Maintenance Manual. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in safety risks, potentially leading to cross tube failure and compromising the airworthiness of the helicopter.
Non-compliance with the Airworthiness Directive can lead to severe consequences. Operators and maintenance personnel must be aware that failure to adhere to the specified requirements and timelines can result in significant penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the directive, non-compliance generally attracts administrative actions under aviation safety laws, which can include fines, revocation of certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. It is important for all parties involved to ensure strict adherence to the AD to avoid these potential repercussions.