{"id":"F2006B04402","name":"AD/BELL 205/65 - Vertical Fin Spar Cap","slug":"ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44227,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04402-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 205/65 - Vertical Fin Spar Cap","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\nBell Helicopter Textron 205 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/BELL 205/65 Vertical Fin Spar Cap 12/99 DM\n\nApplicability: Model 205A-1 helicopters with Vertical Fin Spar Cap PNo 212-030-447-001 or \\-101 fitted.\n\nModel 205B helicopters with Vertical Fin Spar Cap PNo 212-030-447-101. Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 99-18-02\n\nAmendment 39-11268.\n\nNote: The FAA calls out Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Alert Service Bulletin 205-98- 70 Revision A dated 21 Sept 1998. However, the FAA AD requires inspections and maintenance beyond that of the Bell ASB.\n\nCompliance: In accordance with the requirement document, but with a revised with effect date of 6 October 1999.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 October 1999.\n\nBackground: The FAA have issued an AD that inspects the vertical fin spar cap for corrosion, cracking and disbonding. The FAA justification cites 5 accidents involving helicopters of a similar design.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, narrow Airworthiness Directive adopting a foreign (FAA) safety order for a specific mechanical defect. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of addressing vertical fin spar cap integrity in specified Bell 205 variants."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","Only 2 specific helicopter models affected with clearly defined part numbers","Single compliance pathway: reference to external FAA document (AD 99-18-02)","No defined terms section — relies entirely on external technical references","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — straightforward applicability test","One substantive requirement with clear effective date"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it as a \"recall notice\" for aircraft, but legally binding. If you don't comply, you can't fly the helicopter legally.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific **Bell 205 series helicopters** to inspect and potentially repair a critical structural part called the **vertical fin spar cap** — essentially a metal component at the top of the helicopter's tail fin that helps keep the aircraft stable in flight.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Model 205A-1 helicopters** with specific part numbers (212-030-447-001 or -101) for the vertical fin spar cap\n- **Model 205B helicopters** with part number 212-030-447-101\n\n**What must be done:** Operators must follow the technical instructions in **FAA AD 99-18-02** (an American safety order). This includes inspections for **corrosion, cracking, and disbonding** (where layers of material separate). Importantly, the Australian directive notes that the FAA requirements go *beyond* what Bell's own service bulletin recommended — meaning more thorough checks are needed.\n\n**Why it matters:** The FAA identified **5 accidents** involving similar helicopter designs where problems with this part contributed to crashes. This AD prevents potentially catastrophic tail failures that could cause loss of control.\n\n**When compliance is required:** By **6 October 1999** (the Australian effective date, which differs slightly from the US timeline)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The directive adopts the FAA airworthiness directive as the governing technical requirement and notes that the FAA AD mandates inspections and maintenance beyond the scope of the Bell Alert Service Bulletin (\"Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 99-18-02\"; \"Note: ... the FAA AD requires inspections and maintenance beyond that of the Bell ASB.\"). Practically, that means the applicable inspection/maintenance scope for the listed helicopters is expanded relative to following the Bell ASB alone, and compliance is required from the effective date of 6 October 1999 (\"This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 October 1999\")."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporation by reference of an external FAA airworthiness directive (FAA AD 99-18-02) rather than reproducing technical requirements in full (\"Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 99-18-02\").","A note that the FAA AD's inspection and maintenance scope exceeds the Bell Alert Service Bulletin, requiring operators to reconcile multiple documents (\"Note: ... the FAA AD requires inspections and maintenance beyond that of the Bell ASB.\").","Limited applicability tied to specific helicopter models and specific part numbers, requiring operators to check equipment fitment (\"Applicability: Model 205A-1... Model 205B...\").","Effective-date revision and cross-referencing of the compliance phrase create a timing-specific compliance obligation (\"Compliance: In accordance with the requirement document, but with a revised with effect date of 6 October 1999\"; \"This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 October 1999\").","Technical inspection criteria (corrosion, cracking, disbonding) that are inherently specialised and require maintenance capability to assess and remediate (\"Background: ... inspects the vertical fin spar cap for corrosion, cracking and disbonding.\")"],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires owners/operators of Bell 205A-1 and 205B helicopters fitted with specified Vertical Fin Spar Cap part numbers to carry out inspections and any required maintenance in accordance with FAA AD 99-18-02, effective 6 October 1999. It adopts the FAA’s corrosion/crack/disbond inspection regime—issued after five related accidents—and imposes obligations (and costs/downtime) beyond the Bell Alert Service Bulletin, so operators must obtain and follow the FAA AD."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-205-65-vertical-fin-spar-cap/documents"}}