{"id":"F2006B04614","name":"AD/BELL 222/23 - Swashplate Rotating Ring Drive Pins - Torque Test","slug":"ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44366,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04614-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 222/23 - Swashplate Rotating Ring Drive Pins - Torque Test","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) 222 Series Helicopters\n\n \n\n# AD/BELL 222/23 Swashplate Rotating Ring Drive Pins - Torque Test\n\nApplicability: Bell (BHTC) Model 222 helicopters, serial numbers:\n\n \n\n1. Model 222 S/N 47006 through 47089\n\n\n \n\n2.    Model 222B S/N 47131 through 47156\n\n \n\n3.    Model 222U S/N 47501 through 47574\n\n \n\n4.    Model 230 S/N 23001 through 23038\n\n# 9/99\n\nDM\n\n \n\nRequirement: Perform a torque test to determine the proper fit between the drive pin and the swashplate in accordance with the applicable service bulletin (see below):\n\n \n\nHelicopter Model Applicable Alert Service Bulletin\n\n222 and 222B 222-99-84\n\n222U 2222U-99-55\n\n230 230-99-16\n\nNote: Transport Canada Airworthiness Directive CF 99-16 dated 09 June 1999\n\nrefers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 55 flight hours of the effective date of issue of this Directive but no later than 30 September 1999.\n\n \n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 14 July 1999.\n\n \n\nBackground: Investigation into the crash of a Model 222 helicopter revealed that one of the two swashplate rotating ring drive pins P/N 222-010-455-003 had failed. The fatigue failure was attributed to an insufficient interference fit between the pin and the swashplate ring. This directive mandates an initial inspection to identify correct fit between the pin and the swashplate ring. Recurring inspections will be incorporated by revision of the appropriate maintenance manuals.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical failure mode identified through accident investigation. The scope remains precisely limited to the swashplate drive pin issue on affected Bell helicopter models, with no evidence of scope creep beyond the original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific mechanical requirement (torque test on one component)","Limited applicability: only 4 helicopter models with specific serial number ranges","Clear compliance deadline (55 flight hours or fixed calendar date)","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or cross-references to other legislation","Straightforward background explanation linking to a specific accident","Only 3 defined references (the service bulletins) and one external reference (Canadian AD)"],"plain_english_summary":"This mandatory CASA Airworthiness Directive orders owners/operators of specified Bell 222, 222B, 222U and 230 helicopters to perform a torque test on the swashplate rotating ring drive pin because a loose pin led to a fatal Bell 222 crash from metal fatigue. Compliance is required within 55 flight hours or by 30 September 1999 (whichever is earlier), following Bell service bulletins; recurring inspections will be added to maintenance documents."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive implements a corrective action to verify interference fit for the listed models/serials (Requirement; Background). It does not expand the list of affected aircraft beyond those specified and defers recurring inspection details to maintenance manual revision, so the immediate scope aligns with the stated safety objective."},"complexity_factors":["Technical specificity: requires a torque test on a safety‑critical component (swashplate rotating ring drive pins) — (Requirement; Background).","Applicability scope: four helicopter models with multiple serial‑number ranges must be checked — (Applicability).","Dependency on external documents: test performed in accordance with specific Alert Service Bulletins; also references Transport Canada AD CF 99‑16 — (Requirement; Note).","Time pressure: short compliance window (within 55 flight hours or by 30 Sept 1999) creates operational scheduling burden — (Compliance).","Follow‑on work deferred: recurring inspections are not mandated here but will be incorporated later via maintenance manual revisions, creating future compliance uncertainty — (Background).","Operator responsibility: inspection, test execution and any corrective action (and associated costs) fall to operators/maintainers — (Requirement; Compliance).","Prescriptive instrument: the AD is narrowly targeted and procedural rather than requiring regulator‑level discretion — (Requirement)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires operators of specified Bell Model 222, 222B, 222U and 230 helicopters (listed by serial number) to perform a torque test on the swashplate rotating‑ring drive pins, using the applicable Bell service bulletin, to confirm a correct interference fit. \n\nOperators must complete the test within 55 flight hours or by 30 September 1999. The cost, scheduling and technical burden fall on operators; recurring inspections are to be added later by revising maintenance manuals (Requirement; Compliance; Background)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-23-swashplate-rotating-ring-drive-pins-torque-test/documents"}}