{"id":"F2006B04690","name":"AD/BELL 47/59 - Main Rotor Blades","slug":"ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44442,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04690-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 47/59 - Main Rotor Blades","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 47 (All Variants) Series Helicopters\n\n \n\nAD/BELL 47/59 Main Rotor Blades 10/65\n\nApplicability: All model 47 series with metal main rotor blades.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Carry out a visual inspection for cracking of the upper and lower surfaces of the main rotor blades adjacent to the outboard extremity of the root reinforcement doublers at the trailing edge.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Before 1500 hours blade time in service and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.\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\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 \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The provided text sets a focused scope: inspection for cracking on the trailing-edge area adjacent to root reinforcement doublers of metal main rotor blades on Bell 47 series helicopters, with specified timing. There is no indication in this text that the scope differs from that stated here."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability (limited to Bell 47 series with metal main rotor blades).","Single, clearly specified inspection task (visual inspection at a defined blade location).","Simple, fixed compliance timing (initial before 1,500 blade hours, then every 100 hours).","No complex procedural or approval pathways set out in the supplied text (no multiple branches, exceptions, or alternative methods described)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive mandates periodic visual inspection of metal main rotor blades on Bell 47 series helicopters for cracking at the trailing-edge area adjacent to the root reinforcement doublers, first before 1,500 blade hours and then every 100 blade hours. It affects owners/operators, who must schedule recurring checks, bear inspection and repair costs, and may face downtime or operational adjustments to maintain airworthiness."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, standalone airworthiness directive with a narrow, specific safety purpose. It has not expanded beyond its original intent of mandating crack inspections on specific helicopter rotor blades."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific requirement (visual inspection for cracks)","Only one applicability criterion (Bell 47 series with metal main rotor blades)","Simple compliance schedule (one-time threshold + recurring interval)","No defined terms section, cross-references, or conditional exceptions","Extremely short document (under 150 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** An Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific helicopters.\n\n**Who it affects:** Owners and operators of **Bell 47 series helicopters** (all variants) that have **metal main rotor blades**.\n\n**What it requires:**\n- **Inspect the main rotor blades** for cracks in a specific area — the upper and lower surfaces near where the blade attaches to the helicopter (the \"root reinforcement doublers\" at the trailing edge).\n- **When to do it:**\n  - First inspection: **before the blades reach 1,500 hours** of flight time\n  - Repeat inspections: **every 100 hours** of flight time after that\n\n**Why it matters:** Cracks in rotor blades can lead to catastrophic failure in flight. This rule ensures potential cracks are caught early through regular visual checks, preventing accidents and saving lives."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-59-main-rotor-blades/documents"}}