Commonwealth legislation

AD/BELL 204/40 - Main Gearbox - Planetary Spider

In ForceCTH

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

3/10 complexity

Requires operators of Bell Model 204B helicopters fitted with the lower planetary spider P/N 204-040-785-003 to remove that spider and inspect it for fatigue cracking using an approved magnetic particle inspection; any cracking is unacceptable (Applicability; Requirement). Compliance times are specified for initial and recurring inspections. The measure addresses the risk that spider fatigue failure would cause gearbox failure and loss of control. Operators pay for removal, inspection and any replacement; CASA enforces the directive under CAR 1998 subreg 39.1(1).

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/BELL 204/40 - Main Gearbox - Planetary Spider.

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

View image in the official source

View image in the official source
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.

AD/BELL 204/40 Main Gearbox - Planetary

AD/BELL 204/40 Main Gearbox - Planetary Spider 8/2000

Applicability: Model 204B with a main rotor gearbox lower planetary spider P/N 204-040-785-003 installed.

Requirement: Remove the spider from the transmission and inspect for fatigue cracking using an approved magnetic particle inspection method.

Any cracking is unacceptable.

Note: FAA AD 93-17-12 refers.

Compliance: Unless already accomplished within the last 2 400 hours time in service, within 600 hours time in service after 29 July 1994; thereafter at intervals not exceeding 3 100 hours.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 August 2000.

Background: A fatigue failure of the transmission spider would result in failure of the gearbox and loss of control of the helicopter. This directive also follows the re-introduction of the AD Series after sixteen years.

View image in the official source

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 July 2000

View image in the official source

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 July 2000.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

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.

AD/BELL 204/40 Main Gearbox - Planetary AD/BELL 204/40 Main Gearbox - Planetary Spider 8/2000

AD/BELL 204/40 Main Gearbox - Planetary Spider 8/2000

Applicability: Model 204B with a main rotor gearbox lower planetary spider P/N 204-040-785-003 installed.

Requirement: Remove the spider from the transmission and inspect for fatigue cracking using an approved magnetic particle inspection method.

Any cracking is unacceptable.

Note: FAA AD 93-17-12 refers.

Compliance: Unless already accomplished within the last 2 400 hours time in service, within 600 hours time in service after 29 July 1994; thereafter at intervals not exceeding 3 100 hours.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 August 2000.

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 July 2000

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 July 2000.