{"id":"F2006B04422","name":"AD/BELL 206/109 Amdt 3 - Tail Boom Skin","slug":"ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44247,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04422-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 206/109 Amdt 3 - Tail Boom Skin","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\nBell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/BELL 206/109\n\nAmdt 3\n\n  \nTail Boom Skin 10/96\n\nApplicability: Models 206L, 206L-I and 206L-III with tail booms P/Nos 206-033-004-3, \\-11,-103, and -45 installed.\n\nRequirement: Inspect in accordance with the requirements of Bell Alert SB 206L-87-47 Rev C. Where the SB specifies inspection with a 5X glass, a 10X glass is to be used.\n\nNote: FAA AD 96-14-10 refers in part.\n\nCompliance: For unmodified tailbooms - within 50 hours time in service from the last compliance with the previous issue of this Directive, thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours time in service until modified.\n\nFor modified tailbooms \\- within 100 hours time in service from the last compliance with the previous issue of this Directive, thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.\n\nReplacement of the tailboom with P/N 206-033-044-143 or \\-173 terminates the requirements of this Directive.\n\nThis Amendment is effective from 12 September 1996.\n\nBackground: Severe upper skin cracks in the applicable tailbooms have been found in service. Amendment 2 introduced relaxed inspection intervals for the modified booms.\n\nAmendment 3 introduces a revised inspection requirement, provides terminating action, and references a similar FAA AD.\n\nThe original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 11 September 1987.\n\nAmendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 26 January 1989\\. Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 10 August 1989.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Compared with the original 1987 Directive, Amendment 3 revises the inspection procedure (including magnification), formalises terminating action by listing replacement tailboom part numbers that end the requirement, and explicitly references a related FAA AD. Amendment 2 had previously relaxed intervals for modified booms; Amendment 3 alters the inspection mechanics and adds the replacement-based termination."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability by model and multiple specific tailboom part numbers (Applicability).","Dependence on an external service document: Bell Alert SB 206L-87-47 Rev C (Requirement).","Technical inspection detail changed: mandating 10X magnifier where SB specifies 5X (Requirement).","Different compliance intervals based on modification status (50 hours unmodified; 100 hours modified) (Compliance).","Terminating action tied to replacement with specific tailboom P/Ns (206-033-044-143 or -173) (Requirement).","Cross-reference to FAA AD 96-14-10, creating inter-jurisdictional linkage (Note/Background).","Operational burden from recurring short-interval inspections (Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires repeated inspections of the upper skin on certain Bell/Agusta Bell 206L series tailbooms (specified part numbers) using the Bell Alert SB 206L-87-47 Rev C procedure and a 10X magnifier where the SB calls for 5X. Inspections must be done at 50‑hour intervals for unmodified booms and 100‑hour intervals for modified booms, and replacing the tailboom with stated part numbers ends the inspection requirement. The change responds to in-service upper-skin cracking."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Airworthiness Directive has remained tightly focused on its original purpose since 1987: preventing tail boom skin cracks on specific Bell 206 helicopter models. The three amendments have refined inspection intervals and added a terminating action (replacement option), but have not expanded beyond the original safety issue or aircraft models."},"complexity_factors":["Single technical subject matter (tail boom inspection) with narrow applicability","Only 4 defined part numbers in applicability section","Simple conditional structure: two categories (modified/unmodified) with different intervals","One terminating action clearly specified","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single FAA AD reference","Total length under 300 words","Clear compliance dates and intervals expressed in flight hours"],"plain_english_summary":"This amendment tightens inspection rules for certain Bell 206L, 206L‑I, and 206L‑III helicopters to detect dangerous tail‑boom skin cracks: maintenance must use 10X magnification and inspect unmodified booms every 50 flight hours or modified booms every 100 hours. Replacing the tail boom with specified newer part numbers ends the inspection requirement. It affects owners, operators, and engineers and matters because undetected cracks can cause catastrophic structural failure."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-109-amdt-3-tail-boom-skin/documents"}}