Narrative:

I am employed by an air ambulance service based out of ZZZ. On the date listed; the company's bell 206 L1 aircraft; was taken out of service around xx:00 hrs the previous date for some required maintenance. One of these required maintenance items was the replacement of a hydraulic servo which was due for overhaul. At approximately xy:45 hrs the mechanic had approached me and informed myself that a engine run was required in order to check for any leaks of the replaced hydraulic servo. As per his request this engine run was completed at 100% power and the controls were manipulated to check for any type of binding and or abnormalities. None were noted and the aircraft was returned to the hangar pending completion of the required maintenance. I was later approached by the mechanic where I verified that the required maintenance was properly documented and signed off in the engineering log. Upon inquiring as to if a test flight was required; I was informed by the mechanic; that per his documentation no test flight was required and verification that a leak check was performed was all in which was needed. Based upon this I returned the aircraft back into service; and the mechanic left the base upon completion of faxing in his required documents. It was a short time later we were requested to take a patient flight from an outlying hospital into the ZZZ1 a more advanced hospital. Upon returning back to base; a mechanic supervisor checked the mechanic's paperwork which had completed the maintenance on the aircraft and noted that no operational check flight had been performed prior to returning the aircraft to service. I checked the company operational manual per the requirement of operational check flights; and noted when the required checks are to be performed. Per the manual; an operational check flight is performed for a number of reasons; one of these being 'wing; horizontal stabilizer; vertical stabilizer; or helicopter primary flight control change. This does not apply to the removal and reconnection of flight control linkages unless the length has been adjusted. Note: primary control is the elevator; collective and cyclic controls; and anti-torque controls.' upon reviewing this; I as well felt that being a flight control linkage can be removed and placed back on without the requirement of a test flight; and being there is no adjustment made for a hydraulic servo; that this same no need for an operational check flight would have been required. This was later viewed by the administration with the company and determined that although a bit vague and could lead to misinterpretation by others; that a required operational check flight was mandatory. Due to this; there is a possibility of later changes being made to the operational manual reference to the operational check flight requirements. These operational check flight requirements being found under revision xx of our company's maintenance and servicing and operational check flights. This aircraft was shortly thereafter flown on an operational check flight; and same was noted within the aircraft engineering log.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air ambulance service pilot reports about questions that arose regarding whether or not an operational check flight was required after a Mechanic replaced a hydraulic servo on their Bell Jet Ranger 206 helicopter.

Narrative: I am employed by an air ambulance service based out of ZZZ. On the date listed; the company's Bell 206 L1 aircraft; was taken out of service around XX:00 hrs the previous date for some required maintenance. One of these required maintenance items was the replacement of a hydraulic servo which was due for overhaul. At approximately XY:45 hrs the Mechanic had approached me and informed myself that a engine run was required in order to check for any leaks of the replaced hydraulic servo. As per his request this engine run was completed at 100% power and the controls were manipulated to check for any type of binding and or abnormalities. None were noted and the aircraft was returned to the hangar pending completion of the required maintenance. I was later approached by the Mechanic where I verified that the required maintenance was properly documented and signed off in the engineering log. Upon inquiring as to if a test flight was required; I was informed by the Mechanic; that per his documentation no test flight was required and verification that a leak check was performed was all in which was needed. Based upon this I returned the aircraft back into service; and the mechanic left the base upon completion of faxing in his required documents. It was a short time later we were requested to take a patient flight from an outlying hospital into the ZZZ1 a more advanced hospital. Upon returning back to base; a Mechanic Supervisor checked the Mechanic's paperwork which had completed the maintenance on the aircraft and noted that no operational check flight had been performed prior to returning the aircraft to service. I checked the company operational manual per the requirement of operational check flights; and noted when the required checks are to be performed. Per the manual; an operational check flight is performed for a number of reasons; one of these being 'wing; horizontal stabilizer; vertical stabilizer; or helicopter primary flight control change. This does not apply to the removal and reconnection of flight control linkages unless the length has been adjusted. Note: primary control is the elevator; collective and cyclic controls; and anti-torque controls.' Upon reviewing this; I as well felt that being a flight control linkage can be removed and placed back on without the requirement of a test flight; and being there is no adjustment made for a hydraulic servo; that this same no need for an operational check flight would have been required. This was later viewed by the administration with the company and determined that although a bit vague and could lead to misinterpretation by others; that a required operational check flight was mandatory. Due to this; there is a possibility of later changes being made to the operational manual reference to the operational check flight requirements. These operational check flight requirements being found under Revision XX of our company's maintenance and servicing and operational check flights. This aircraft was shortly thereafter flown on an operational check flight; and same was noted within the aircraft engineering log.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.