{"id":"F2006B04703","name":"AD/BELL 47/80 Amdt 3 - Main Rotor Head Counterweight Rod","slug":"ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":44467,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B04703-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BELL 47/80 Amdt 3 - Main Rotor Head Counterweight Rod","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 47/80\n\nAmdt 3\n\n\nMain Rotor Head Counterweight Rod 10/86\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G- 3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A, 47J, 47J-2, and 47J-2A.\n\n \n\nDocument: Bell ASB No. 47-78-2, Rev. B. Kawasaki-Bell KSB-Bell 348A.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 October 1982, and thereafter at periods not exceeding 300 hours time in service.\n\n \n\nBackground:  Service experience indicates the need to reduce the inspection periods for counterweight rods. This Directive has been amended to include Kawasaki-Bell helicopters.\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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Directive was amended to expand applicability to include Kawasaki-Bell helicopters (Background). Practically, this increases the number of helicopters and operators subject to the inspection requirement (Applicability; Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow substantive requirement: a single recurring inspection obligation with clearly stated intervals (Compliance).","Explicit list of affected models requires checking fleet composition to determine applicability (Applicability).","Dependence on external service documents for procedural detail (Bell ASB No. 47-78-2 Rev. B and Kawasaki-Bell KSB-Bell 348A) introduces cross-referencing and possible operational complexity (Document).","Historic timing element (initial 100 hours after 31 October 1982) may require interpretation when applying to records and maintenance timelines (Compliance).","Amendment to include Kawasaki-Bell helicopters increases the affected population and thus logistical planning for operators and maintenance providers (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive mandates recurring inspections of main rotor head counterweight rods on specified Bell 47 series (now including Kawasaki‑Bell variants), requiring an initial check within 100 hours TIS after 31 Oct 1982 and repeats at intervals not exceeding 300 hours. \n\nIt affects owners, operators and maintenance providers, who must follow the referenced Bell/Kawasaki service bulletins; it creates ongoing inspection costs, scheduled downtime, and a binding procedural requirement for compliance."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This is Amendment 3 to the original directive. The background note explicitly states 'This Directive has been amended to include Kawasaki-Bell helicopters.' The scope has expanded from the original Bell-manufactured helicopters to include those manufactured under licence by Kawasaki-Bell, broadening the geographic and manufacturer reach of the safety requirement."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 200 words)","Only 4 defined elements: applicability list, document references, compliance deadline, and background","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the parent Civil Aviation Regulations 1998","Simple conditional logic: single compliance trigger (hours in service) with one recurring interval","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions","Straightforward applicability: binary yes/no based on aircraft model number"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it like a compulsory recall notice, but for aircraft parts.\n\n**What it does:** It requires owners and operators of specific Bell 47 helicopter models to inspect the **main rotor head counterweight rod** — a critical component that helps balance the helicopter's main rotor — more frequently than before.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone who owns or operates these specific Bell helicopter models: 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A, 47J, 47J-2, and 47J-2A. This includes both original Bell helicopters and those manufactured under licence by Kawasaki-Bell.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **First inspection:** Must be completed within 100 hours of flying time after 31 October 1982\n- **Ongoing inspections:** Must be repeated every 300 hours of flying time thereafter\n\n**Why it matters:** The aviation regulator identified through \"service experience\" (real-world incidents or wear patterns) that the counterweight rods were wearing out or failing faster than expected. If this part fails in flight, the helicopter could lose rotor balance with catastrophic consequences. This directive forces operators to catch problems before they cause accidents.\n\n**The technical documents:** Operators must follow the inspection procedures in Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 47-78-2 (Revision B) or the Kawasaki-Bell equivalent (KSB-Bell 348A)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-47-80-amdt-3-main-rotor-head-counterweight-rod/documents"}}