{"id":"F2006B04561","name":"AD/BELL 212/3 Amdt 5 - Main Rotor Blades - Eddy Current Inspection","slug":"ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":114291,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04561-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 212/3 Amdt 5 - Main Rotor Blades - Eddy Current Inspection","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nBell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/BELL 212/3\n\nAmdt 5\n\n  \n\nMain Rotor Blades \\- Eddy Current Inspection\n\n  \n12/84\n\nApplicability: All models with main rotor blades P/N 204-012-001.\n\nRequirement: 1. Inspect the upper and lower surface of each blade by means of an approved low frequency eddy current technique in order to detect fatigue cracking in the blade spar prior to its propagation into the skin material. The areas to be inspected are the upper and lower sections of the spar extending forward approximately 0.5 inches and along a line approximately 4.0 inches, from the rear vertical face. As far as is practicable and excluding the inboard end doubler and tip weight areas, the complete length of each blade is to be covered.\n\nNote: Eddy Current Technique ATG/NDI/EC3 is approved for this inspection.\n\n2. By means of an approved eddy current technique inspect the main rotor blade upper and lower skins between the spar and the trailing edge member for fatigue cracking. Two approximately equally spaced scans are required on each surface.\n\nCompliance: Prior to achieving 300 hours component time in service and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours component time in service.\n\nBackground: This Directive has been revised to exclude the later model glass fibre belted blades from the requirement.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Background explicitly revises the Directive to exclude later model glass‑fibre belted blades from the inspection requirement, narrowing applicability from 'all models with main rotor blades P/N 204‑012‑001' to exclude those later blades (Applicability; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical method requirement: inspection must use an approved low‑frequency eddy current technique (Note: ATG/NDI/EC3 approved) — requires specialised NDI equipment and trained technicians (Requirement 1; Note).","Prescriptive but technical geometry: specific inspection area dimensions (≈0.5 in forward and ≈4.0 in along a line from rear vertical face) and full‑length coverage 'as far as is practicable' create implementation detail (Requirement 1).","Coverage exclusions: inboard end doubler and tip weight areas excluded — teams must identify and document excluded zones (Requirement 1).","Skin scans: two roughly equally spaced scans per surface between spar and trailing edge add procedural steps (Requirement 2).","Frequent intervals: initial compliance before 300 hours component time and repeat every 25 hours increases operational downtime and recordkeeping (Compliance).","Applicability boundary: applies only to blades P/N 204‑012‑001; Background narrows scope by excluding later glass‑fibre belted blades, which affects which operators are covered (Applicability; Background).","Regulatory discretion/ambiguity: terms like 'approved' and 'as far as is practicable' require regulator or maintenance organisation judgement and may produce variability in execution and oversight (Requirement 1; Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires approved low‑frequency eddy‑current inspection of the upper and lower surfaces of main rotor blades P/N 204‑012‑001 to detect spar and skin fatigue. Inspections must cover specified spar areas (about 0.5 in forward by 4.0 in along the rear face), include two scans of the skins, and be done before 300 hours component time and every 25 hours thereafter. Affects Bell 212 operators and maintenance organisations using that part‑number; revised to exclude later glass‑fibre belted blades (Background)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment narrows rather than expands scope — it specifically excludes later model glass fibre belted blades from the original directive's requirements. The core purpose (mandating eddy current inspection of metal rotor blades to detect fatigue cracking) remains unchanged from the original 1984 directive."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical subject matter (rotor blade inspection)","Only 2 main requirements with clear spatial descriptions","One defined technical term referenced (eddy current technique ATG/NDI/EC3)","Simple compliance structure (single threshold + recurring interval)","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the enabling authority (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39)","Limited conditional logic (only applicability exclusion for glass fibre belted blades)","Short document (approximately 200 words)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates eddy‑current inspections of specific metal main rotor blades (PN 204‑012‑001) on Bell 212 helicopters to detect fatigue cracks in the spar and blade skins. It affects operators and maintenance organisations using those blades and excludes newer fibreglass‑belted models.\n\nInspections are required before 300 flight hours on a blade and then every 25 flight hours to prevent undetected crack growth and potential blade failure."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-212-3-amdt-5-main-rotor-blades-eddy-current-inspection/documents"}}