{"id":"F2006B04376","name":"AD/BELL 205/40 - Tail Rotor Pitch Horns - Inspection","slug":"ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44201,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04376-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 205/40 - Tail Rotor Pitch Horns - Inspection","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\nBell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/BELL 205/40 Tail Rotor Pitch Horns - Inspection 10/77\n\nApplicability: All models fitted with pitch change horns P/N 212-010-716-5 or -9. Document:  1. Bell SB No. 205-77-5; or\n\n2. FAA AD 77-17-03.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 15 September 1977, and there- after at intervals not to exceed 100 hours.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The excerpt provides a narrowly defined scope: it applies to all Bell 205 helicopters fitted with the specified pitch change horn part numbers and prescribes inspection timing and reference documents. There is no information in the provided text indicating any change from an earlier or different scope; the directive's applicability and compliance requirements are stated explicitly in the source."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow and well-defined applicability limited to helicopters fitted with specific part numbers (P/N 212-010-716-5 or -9). (Applicability)","Clear and simple compliance timing (initial 25-hour window after a fixed date; recurring 100-hour interval). (Compliance)","Dependence on external technical documents (Bell SB 205-77-5 or FAA AD 77-17-03) for inspection procedures increases implementation complexity because inspectors must obtain and follow those documents. (Document)","Short initial compliance window creates operational scheduling pressure for affected operators. (Compliance)","The AD is issued under regulatory authority (Part 39), so non-compliance has regulatory consequences not detailed in the text; enforcement mechanisms are external to the excerpt. (header)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- The directive requires inspections of the tail rotor pitch change horns on Bell Helicopter Textron 205 series helicopters that are fitted with pitch change horns part number 212-010-716-5 or 212-010-716-9. (Applicability)\n- The inspections must follow the procedures or technical content found in either Bell Service Bulletin No. 205-77-5 or FAA AD 77-17-03, which are identified as the governing documents. (Document)\n- Timing: each affected helicopter must be inspected within 25 hours time-in-service after 15 September 1977, and then inspected repeatedly at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time-in-service thereafter. (Compliance)\n\nWho this affects and who decides\n\n- Operators (owners and operators) of Bell 205 helicopters that have the specified pitch change horn part numbers are the parties required to act (Applicability). They are the ones who will schedule and pay for the inspections and any follow-up maintenance or part replacement.\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued the directive under the airworthiness directives schedule (header cites Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 39), and the directive references Bell and FAA technical documents that contain the inspection instructions. (header/Document)\n\nWhy it matters (mechanism and incentives)\n\n- The directive creates a mandatory compliance obligation: affected operators must carry out the specified inspections within the stated time windows. (Compliance)\n- Because the required inspections are time-limited and recurring, operators are incentivised to: schedule maintenance slots, allocate technician labour and inspection resources, and consult the referenced service bulletin or FAA AD to determine the inspection steps. (Compliance/Document)\n\nCosts, trade-offs and implementation points to watch\n\n- Who pays: operators bear direct costs (labour, inspection equipment, possible grounding downtime, and any repair or replacement costs discovered during inspection). (Applicability/Compliance)\n- Compliance burden: the directive imposes an immediate short-term scheduling burden (inspection within 25 hours after 15 September 1977) and an ongoing recurrent burden (every 100 hours). Operators must integrate these checks into maintenance programmes. (Compliance)\n- Reliance on external technical documents: the AD points inspectors to Bell SB 205-77-5 or FAA AD 77-17-03 for the inspection method. Those documents carry the technical instructions that technicians must follow; the AD itself does not include step-by-step procedures. This creates a dependency on those referenced documents for implementation. (Document)\n- Bureaucratic discretion and enforcement: the AD is issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations (Part 39 header); compliance is a regulatory requirement. The text does not set out enforcement processes or penalties in this excerpt. (header)\n\nImplementation risks and where unintended consequences could arise\n\n- Scheduling risk: the short initial window (25 hours after the specified date) could require rapid fleet coordination to meet the deadline. (Compliance)\n- Interpretation risk: because the AD refers to external documents for technical detail, different operators may interpret or implement steps differently unless the referenced documents are unambiguous and available. (Document)\n- Substitution or downstream effects: the directive may prompt operators to inspect, repair, or replace the specified part numbers; the AD does not state authorised alternatives or replacement parts. (Applicability/Document)\n\nSource citations\n\n- Applicability: \"All models fitted with pitch change horns P/N 212-010-716-5 or -9.\" (Applicability)\n- Documents: \"Bell SB No. 205-77-5; or FAA AD 77-17-03.\" (Document)\n- Compliance: \"Within 25 hours time in service after 15 September 1977, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours.\" (Compliance)\n\nNote on stated purpose\n\n- The text of the directive sets inspection requirements and timing but does not state an explicit statement of purpose within the excerpt provided. The mechanical effect is to require inspections on a defined set of helicopters at defined intervals, using the referenced technical documents to implement those inspections. (Entire text)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue airworthiness directive from 1977 addressing a specific mechanical component. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of ensuring tail rotor pitch horn integrity through periodic inspection."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — only 4 substantive paragraphs","No defined terms section — all language is plain technical aviation terminology","Single, clear compliance requirement with straightforward time-in-service calculation","No cross-references to other legislation beyond citing source documents (Bell service bulletin and FAA AD)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Narrow, specific applicability (two specific part numbers only)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It applies to specific **Bell 205 series helicopters** (a type of aircraft commonly used for firefighting, rescue, and transport).\n\n**What it requires:**\nOwners and operators must **inspect the tail rotor pitch horns** — these are mechanical components that control the angle of the tail rotor blades. The specific parts covered are identified by part numbers **212-010-716-5 or -9**.\n\n**When to do it:**\n- **First inspection:** Within 25 hours of flying time after 15 September 1977\n- **Repeat inspections:** Every 100 hours of flying time thereafter\n\n**Why it matters:**\nTail rotor pitch horns are critical for controlling the helicopter's direction. If they fail, the pilot could lose directional control — a potentially catastrophic situation. This AD was issued because Bell Helicopter and the US FAA identified a safety problem requiring ongoing monitoring.\n\n**Key point:** This is not optional. Compliance is legally mandatory for any Australian-registered helicopter covered by this directive."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-40-tail-rotor-pitch-horns-inspection/documents"}}