AD/BELL 206/123 Amdt 1 - Emergency Float Bags (Cth)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 206 and Agusta Bell 206 Series Helicopters

AD/BELL 206/123 Amdt 1

Emergency Float Bags 1/93

Applicability: Bell 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3 and Agusta Bell AB206A and AB206B helicopters equipped with emergency float bags, part numbers (P/N) 206-050-248- 107, -109 and 111 manufactured prior to 1 September, 1989. These float bags are used in BHTI emergency float kits 206-706-210 and 206-706-211.

Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-03-12 Amdt 39- 6856.

Note: RAI AD 92-332 also refers.

Compliance: Unless already accomplished, as specified in the Requirement Document with a revised effective date of 7 January 1993 for Australian registered helicopters.

The compliance of the previous issue of this Directive was:

As specified in the Requirement Document with a revised effective date of 18 April 1991.

Background: The FAA had received reports of uneven float bag inflation in the emergency float system during routine functional tests. A subsequent investigation by the manufacturer revealed that the float bags may contain inflation valves produced by two different manufacturers. These valves have different gas flow characteristics, and as a result, a combination of the two could result in an unequal float inflation if the system is actuated, with risk of overturn. Amendment 1 is issued to include Agusta Bell models in AD Applicability in response to the issue of the relevant RAI AD.