{"id":"F2006B04502","name":"AD/BELL 206/46 Amdt 1 - Tailboom Skin Splice - Inspection","slug":"ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114199,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04502-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 206/46 Amdt 1 - Tailboom Skin Splice - 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\n![](image.001.png)  Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/BELL 206/46\n\nAmdt 1\n\n\nTailboom Skin Splice - Inspection 3/74\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models AB206A and AB206B, 206A and 206B prior to S/Nos. 945. Document:  Bell SB 206-01-73-4, Rev. B.\n\nNote: Agusta SB No. BT206-62 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: At intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service after 29 March 1974. Background:              AD/Agusta 206/37 equivalent.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted airworthiness directive focused on a specific mechanical inspection requirement for a defined aircraft population. It has not expanded beyond its original safety purpose. The amendment (Amdt 1) appears to be a routine update rather than a scope expansion."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","Only 4 defined elements: applicability, document reference, compliance timing, and background","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Single, clear compliance action with unambiguous timing (100 hours recurring)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward technical reference to manufacturer service bulletins"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific helicopters.\n\n**What it does:**\nRequires owners and operators of certain Bell 206 series helicopters to **inspect the tailboom skin splice** (the joint where sections of the helicopter's tail are connected) at regular intervals.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All **Agusta-Bell AB206A and AB206B** models\n- All **Bell 206A and 206B** helicopters with serial numbers **before 945**\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Inspect the tailboom skin splice **every 100 hours of flight time** (\"time in service\")\n- This requirement started from **29 March 1974**\n- Follow the procedures in **Bell Service Bulletin 206-01-73-4, Revision B** (or Agusta Service Bulletin BT206-62 for Agusta models)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nTailboom failures can be catastrophic — the tailboom stabilises the helicopter and houses the tail rotor. This AD was issued because of safety concerns about potential cracks or failures at the skin splice joint. The \"Amdt 1\" indicates this is an amended version of an earlier directive, suggesting the requirements were updated based on further experience or incidents.\n\nThis is a **continuing airworthiness requirement** — not a one-off fix, but an ongoing inspection obligation that remains in force until further notice."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument is identified as Amendment 1 to AD/BELL 206/46 (Amdt 1). The supplied text sets specific applicability (models and serial-number cutoff) and a compliance interval (100 hours TIS after 29 March 1974) and points to Bell SB 206-01-73-4, Rev. B for the inspection procedure (Applicability; Document; Compliance). The supplied text does not include the original AD text, so the AD being an amendment indicates a change in scope or details compared with the original, but the exact nature of the change is not stated here (Amdt 1; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Short, narrowly focused directive (tailboom skin splice inspection) with a single repeating interval (100 hours) (Compliance).","Applicability defined by model and a serial-number cutoff (prior to S/No. 945) which requires operators to check fleet records (Applicability).","Technical inspection method is not contained in the AD itself but referenced to a separate service bulletin (SB 206-01-73-4, Rev. B), requiring consultation of another document (Document).","Cross-reference to an Agusta service bulletin and an equivalent Agusta AD may require checking multiple manufacturer/regulatory documents (Note; Background).","No remedial action, cost, or enforcement detail in the AD text increases reliance on the SB and maintenance organisations for execution (Document; Compliance)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires recurring inspections of the tailboom skin splice on certain Bell/Agusta 206-series helicopters (all AB206A/AB206B and 206A/206B with serials before 945), using the procedure in Bell SB 206-01-73-4, Rev. B. Inspections repeat every 100 hours TIS beginning after 29 March 1974. Operators must ensure and pay for compliance; technical detail and corrective actions are in the referenced service bulletin."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-46-amdt-1-tailboom-skin-splice-inspection/documents"}}