{"id":"F2006B04602","name":"AD/BELL 214/2 - Main Transmission Upper Planetary Carrier","slug":"ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44353,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04602-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","sectionType":"part","heading":"AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE","content":"# ![](image.002.png)![](image.001.png)AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.002.png)For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.\n\nBell Helicopter Textron 214 Series Helicopters","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/BELL 214/2 Main Transmission Upper Pl","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/BELL 214/2 Main Transmission Upper Planetary Carrier 1/2003","content":"# AD/BELL 214/2 Main Transmission Upper Planetary Carrier 1/2003\n\nApplicability: Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with main transmission upper planetary carrier, part number (P/N) 214-040-077-007 or \\-3101 installed.\n\nRequirement: 1. Create a component history card or equivalent record for the carrier, P/N 214- 040-077-007 or \\-101.\n\n 2. Determine and record the accumulated Retirement Index Number (RIN) to date on the carrier as follows: (if the multiplication results in a fraction, round the results up to the next whole number)","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"For Model 214B or B-1 helicopters:","sectionType":"part","heading":"For Model 214B or B-1 helicopters:","content":"## For Model 214B or B-1 helicopters:\n\n Multiply the high-power event total to date by 2; or\n\n b. If the actual operating hours are known; and\n\n If the type of operation is internal load lift operations only, multiply each operating hour by 7;\n\n ii. If the type of operation involves any external load lift operations and the number of external load lift operations is known, use table 1 and multiply the appropriate factor for the average number of external load lift operations by the number of actual operating hours;\n iii. If the type of operation involves any external load lift operations, and the number of external load lift operations is unknown, multiply each actual operating hour by 21; or\n\n iv. If the type of operation is unknown, multiply each actual operating hour by 21.\n\n c. If the actual operating hours are unknown:\n\n Assume 900 operating hours per calender year. Prorate the assumed operating hours for partial years;\n\n ii. Calculate the RIN based on the assumed hours and using the criteria specified in requirement b) i through iv, substituting assumed hours for actual operating hours.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Bell Helicopter Textron 214 Series Helic","sectionType":"part","heading":"Bell Helicopter Textron 214 Series Helicopters","content":"## Bell Helicopter Textron 214 Series Helicopters\n\nAD/BELL 214/2 (continued)","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"For Model 214ST helicopters:","sectionType":"part","heading":"For Model 214ST helicopters:","content":"## For Model 214ST helicopters:\n\n d. Multiply the high-power event total to date by 2; or\n\n e. Multiply the factored flight hour total to-date by 12.\n\n 3. Maintain a count of each lift or take off performed and at appropriate intervals increase the accumulated RIN on the component history card or equivalent as follows:","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Table 1.","sectionType":"part","heading":"Table 1.","content":"## Table 1.\n\n```html\n

Average Number of External Load

Lift Operations per Hour

Factor*

0 - 2.00

7

2.01 – 5.00

7

5.01 - 16.00

14

16.01 - 27.00

21

above 27.00

28

*RIN = Factor x Actual Operating Hours

\n```\n\nNote 1: FAA AD 97-15-04 refers.\n\nNote 2: BHTI Alert Service Bulletin 214-94-52 refers to this subject.\n\nCompliance: 1. Unless previously accomplished within 25 flight hours from the effective date of this Directive.\n\n 2. Unless previously accomplished within 25 flight hours from the effective date of this Directive.\n 3. At the completion of Requirement 1 and 2 of this Directive.\n\n 4. On or before the carrier reaches a RIN of 120,000.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 January 2003.","sortOrder":8}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD is limited to establishing a method to calculate a retirement index (RIN), requiring immediate creation/maintenance of component history records, and mandating removal of carriers at RIN 120,000. The text stays within that original technical purpose (to define retirement-life accounting and removal criteria for the upper planetary carrier) and does not expand the subject matter beyond that scope (no new models, no permanent operational restrictions beyond removal at a specified life, and no broader regulatory obligations)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple conditional calculation methods for RIN depending on model and available data (high-power events, actual hours, assumed hours)","Different multipliers and increment rules for two model groups (214B/214B-1 versus 214ST)","Table 1 with five factor bands tied to average external-lift frequency per hour (factors 7–28)","Rounding rule (round up fractions) and assumed-hours rule (900 hours/year prorated) add implementation detail","Operational counting requirements (per take-off, per external lift, special rules for >200 ft descent) create ongoing record-keeping burden","Short compliance windows (25 flight hours) for initial actions","Cross-references to FAA AD and Bell Alert Service Bulletin (external documents that may contain relevant procedures or normative detail)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically):**\n\n- Applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Model 214B, 214B-1 and 214ST helicopters that have a main transmission upper planetary carrier with part number 214-040-077-007 or 214-040-077-101 installed.\n- Requires operators/owners to create a component history card (or equivalent record) for that carrier (Requirement 1).\n- Requires the operator to calculate and record a component Retirement Index Number (RIN) for each carrier (Requirement 2). The AD gives several alternative methods to calculate the accumulated RIN depending on what data the operator has and the helicopter model:\n - For 214B/214B-1: either multiply the number of recorded high-power events by 2, or calculate a factored-hours RIN using either: a flat factor per hour for internal-lift-only operations (7× hours), a factor taken from a table where the factor depends on the average number of external lifts per hour (factors from 7 up to 28), or 21× hours where external-lift frequency is unknown; if actual hours are unknown, assume 900 hours per calendar year and prorate partial years, then apply the same factors.\n - For 214ST: either multiply the high-power event total by 2, or multiply the factored flight-hour total by 12.\n - Fractions in the multiplication are to be rounded up to the next whole number.\n- Requires operators to keep a running count of take-offs and external-lift operations and to increment the RIN on the history card at specified rates (Requirement 3):\n - For 214B/214B-1: +1 RIN per take-off; +1 RIN per external load lift; +2 RIN for an external lift where cargo is picked up at a higher elevation and released at a lower elevation and the elevation difference is 200 ft or more.\n - For 214ST: +2 RIN per take-off; +2 RIN per external load lift; +4 RIN for external lifts with 200 ft or more net descent between pickup and release.\n- Requires removal of the carrier from service when its accumulated RIN reaches 120,000 (Requirement 4).\n- Sets short compliance timing: create records and determine the initial RIN within 25 flight hours of the AD becoming effective (Compliance 1–2); the running count and increments begin on completion of the initial tasks; removal at RIN 120,000 (Compliance 4).\n- Cross-references FAA AD 97-15-04 and a Bell (BHTI) Alert Service Bulletin for related material.\n\n**Who this affects:**\n\n- Aircraft owners and operators of Bell 214B, 214B-1 and 214ST helicopters with the specified carrier part numbers.\n- Maintenance organisations and technicians who hold and update component history cards or equivalent records.\n- Lessors and asset managers who track component lives and scheduling for replacement/overhaul.\n\n**Why it matters (stated purpose and practical implications):**\n\n- The AD establishes a standard procedure for calculating a retirement life (the RIN) for the upper planetary carrier of the main transmission. The stated aim is to manage an unsafe condition by tracking accumulated usage and specific stress events so carriers are removed before the end of safe life.\n\n- Practical effects and incentives:\n - Operators who perform frequent external-lift work or many take-offs will accumulate RIN faster and therefore may have to remove and replace carriers sooner than operators with light-use profiles (see Requirement 3 and Table 1).\n - Operators without complete flight-hour records are forced to use an assumed hours method (900 hours/year prorated), which can increase recorded RIN and lead to earlier removal (Requirement 2.c).\n - The AD imposes an immediate administrative and operational burden: create and maintain component records, count/record each take-off and external-lift, apply the specified multipliers and table factors, and schedule removal when RIN reaches 120,000.\n\n**Costs, trade-offs and implementation risks (mechanical analysis):**\n\n- Who pays: owners/operators pay for record-keeping, administrative compliance, more frequent replacement or overhaul of carriers for high-use aircraft, and potential aircraft downtime to remove/replace carriers (Requirement 4 and Compliance timing).\n- Compliance burden: immediate (25 flight hours) creation of records, ongoing per-flight/event counting and updating of RIN, and application of multiple conditional rules (Requirements 1–3). Operators lacking historic data face substitution to conservative assumptions that increase RIN and replacement frequency (Requirement 2.c).\n- Behavioural incentives and substitution effects: operators may alter operations (reduce external-lift tasks, change contracting) or prefer aircraft types with different life-tracking rules to manage lifecycle costs. They may also invest upfront in better record-keeping systems to avoid conservative assumed hours.\n- Implementation risk: accuracy depends on consistent counting of take-offs and external lifts and correct application of the multipliers/factors. Disputes may arise if records are incomplete or if an operator uses different counting conventions; the AD supplies prescriptive rules but relies on operators to apply them.\n- Effects on market participants: independent maintenance providers will do the record updates and removals; increased removals raise demand for replacement parts/overhaul services (concentrated cost on affected operators, concentrated benefit to parts/maintenance providers). The AD does not mandate a specific replacement part or supplier, but references an Alert Service Bulletin for background detail.\n\n**Concrete legal mechanics to note:**\n- The RIN threshold for mandatory removal is 120,000 (Requirement 4, Compliance 4).\n- Rounding rule: multiplications that result in fractions are rounded up to the next whole number (Requirement 2).\n- If operating-hours are unknown, assume 900 hours/year and prorate partial years (Requirement 2.c.i).\n- Different multipliers apply by model and by type/frequency of operation (Requirements 2.b & 2.d–e and Requirement 3; Table 1).\n\n(References: Requirement and Compliance sections of the AD; Table 1; Background; cross-references to FAA AD and BHTI Alert Service Bulletin.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing fatigue life limits for a specific transmission component in specific helicopter models. The detailed calculation methods, while elaborate, directly serve the original safety purpose of preventing catastrophic failure due to unmonitored stress accumulation. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple calculation pathways with branching logic (actual hours known vs unknown, internal vs external load operations, elevation differences)","Nested conditional formulas with different multipliers for two helicopter models (214B/B-1 vs 214ST)","Cross-referenced lookup table (Table 1) with five ranges requiring interpolation of 'average external load operations per hour'","Defined technical term 'Retirement Index Number (RIN)' with specific rounding rule (round up fractions to whole numbers)","Assumed default values when actual data unavailable (900 hours/year assumption)","Multiple compliance deadlines tied to different requirements (25 flight hours for initial actions, RIN threshold for final removal)","Reference to external documents (FAA AD 97-15-04, Bell Service Bulletin 214-94-52) for full technical context"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Bell 214B/214B‑1/214ST helicopters with certain main transmission upper planetary carriers to track that part’s fatigue \"Retirement Index Number\" (RIN), update it for flights and external lifts, and permanently remove the part when it reaches 120,000 RIN. It matters because load‑related metal fatigue can be hidden and failure could be catastrophic; initial tracking and actions are required within 25 flight hours."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-214-2-main-transmission-upper-planetary-carrier/documents"}}