{"id":"F2006B04538","name":"AD/BELL 206/89 - Emergency Flotation Kit Valve Assembly P/N 206-073-915-5 - Inspection","slug":"ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114257,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04538-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 206/89 - Emergency Flotation Kit Valve Assembly P/N 206-073-915-5 - 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 Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/BELL 206/89 Emergency Flotation Kit Valve Assembly\n\nP/N 206-073-915-5 - Inspection\n\n\n8/81\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models 206L and 206L-1 fitted with emergency flotation kit P/Nos. referenced in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21.\n\n \n\nDocument: Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Before 1 July 1981, unless already accomplished.\n\n \n\nBackground: The manufacturer has advised of a recent occurrence involving an overwater emergency in which the emergency floats malfunctioned due to a defective valve of the referenced P/N.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD maintains the original, limited scope: inspect the valve assembly P/N 206-073-915-5 on all 206L and 206L-1 helicopters fitted with the referenced flotation kits, following Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21, to be completed before 1 July 1981. There is no indication in the text that the applicability, required action, or compliance deadline were altered from the instrument’s stated purpose. (Applicability; Document; Compliance; Background)"},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical scope: single part (P/N 206-073-915-5) and single action (inspection). (title; Applicability)","Clear, short compliance deadline rather than ongoing complex scheduling. (Compliance)","Dependence on an external manufacturer document (Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21) for the inspection procedure increases coordination requirements. (Document)","Implementation logistics may vary by operator (access to parts, maintenance slots), creating modest operational complexity. (Compliance)","No multi-step regulatory regime, approvals, or layered exemptions in the text—limited bureaucratic complexity. (entire AD)"],"plain_english_summary":"### What this directive does\nThis Airworthiness Directive (AD/BELL 206/89) orders an inspection of a specific emergency flotation kit valve assembly — part number 206-073-915-5 — used on certain Bell 206 helicopters. The inspection must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s Bell Alert Service Bulletin referenced in the AD (Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21). (Document)\n\n### Who it affects\nOwners and operators of Bell 206L and 206L-1 helicopters that are fitted with the emergency flotation kits referenced in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21. (Applicability)\n\n### What must be done and by when\nOperators must carry out the inspection required by the manufacturer’s Alert SB before 1 July 1981, unless the inspection has already been done. (Compliance)\n\n### Why the AD was issued\nThe manufacturer reported an incident in which emergency floats malfunctioned during an overwater emergency because of a defective valve of the referenced part number. The AD therefore requires inspection to detect that defect. (Background)\n\n### Who pays and who decides\n- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued the directive (as the listed airworthiness directive issuer); the AD references the manufacturer’s Bell Alert SB for the inspection procedure. (header; Document)\n- The financial and operational burden of carrying out the inspection (and any repairs or replacements found necessary) falls on the owners/operators of the affected helicopters, since they must perform the inspection to comply with the AD. (Applicability; Compliance)\n\n### Practical effects and compliance mechanics\n- Operators must follow the procedures in Bell Alert SB No. 206L-81-21 to inspect the valve assembly. (Document)\n- The requirement has a fixed compliance deadline (before 1 July 1981), so operators need to schedule maintenance time and secure any necessary technical support or parts before that date. (Compliance)\n\n### Implementation, incentives and trade-offs\n- Incentives: Operators are motivated to comply to restore/ensure the intended operation of emergency floats and to meet the regulator’s requirement. (Background; Compliance)\n- Direct costs: labour time for inspection, any replacement parts or repairs identified by the inspection, and aircraft downtime while the work is done. (Compliance)\n- Operational trade-offs: scheduling the inspection may cause short-term downtime; if parts are scarce, replacing defective valves could take longer and extend out-of-service time. (Compliance)\n- Procedural dependency: the AD requires following the manufacturer’s Alert SB; this gives the manufacturer’s procedure a central role in determining what constitutes compliant inspection and repair. (Document)\n\n### Risks and implementation notes\n- The AD addresses a specific failure mode reported in an overwater incident; it does not itself prescribe broader changes beyond the inspection requirement. (Background)\n- Reliance on a manufacturer-issued Alert SB means the practical effectiveness depends on the detail and accuracy of that SB and on operators’ ability to obtain and follow it. (Document)\n\n(References: AD/BELL 206/89 title and text; Applicability; Document; Compliance; Background.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, time-bound safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of mandating inspection of a defective valve in emergency flotation equipment."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement (inspect one part number)","No defined terms section — uses plain technical language","No cross-references to other legislation (only references a manufacturer service bulletin)","Simple conditional logic: 'Before 1 July 1981, unless already accomplished'","Extremely short document (under 150 words of substantive content)","Narrow applicability (two specific helicopter models, one specific kit part number)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It requires owners and operators of specific Bell helicopters to inspect a particular valve in their emergency flotation kits.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Targets:** Bell 206L and 206L-1 helicopters equipped with specific emergency flotation kits (these are inflatable floats that deploy if a helicopter has to land on water).\n- **The problem:** A defective valve (part number 206-073-915-5) in the flotation kit failed during an actual overwater emergency, meaning the floats didn't inflate when needed.\n- **The fix:** Operators must inspect this valve assembly before 1 July 1981 (unless already done).\n- **Why it matters:** This is a life-or-death safety issue. If the valve fails, the emergency floats won't deploy, and a helicopter ditching in water becomes far more dangerous for everyone on board.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone operating the affected helicopter models in Australia — typically commercial operators, emergency services, or private owners flying over water."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-206-89-emergency-flotation-kit-valve-assembly-p-n-206-073-915-5-inspection/documents"}}