AN MBB-BK 117 HELI WAS FLOWN AND OPERATED IN NON COMPLIANCE FOR 3 DAYS OVER THE TIME LIMIT FOR AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE INSPECTION.

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ON JUN/SUN/01 AND JUN/MON/01; I INADVERTENTLY FLEW AN ACFT THAT WAS UNAIRWORTHY DUE TO AN INSPECTION REQUIRED BY AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE NOT HAVING BEEN DONE WHEN IT WAS DUE. THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE WAS FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE UPPER MAST. THE INSPECTION WAS DONE ON JUN/TUE/01 AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SVC WITHOUT ANY REPAIRS OR FURTHER ACTION BEING NECESSARY. AT OUR BASE; THE MECHS DON'T NORMALLY COME IN ON WKENDS UNLESS THERE IS A PROB. THE PLTS FLYING EACH ACFT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINT HAS BEEN DONE. WE DO THIS BY LOOKING IN A THICK 3-RING BINDER WITH ALL AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES AND SVC BULLETINS LISTED ON DIFFERENT SHEETS. I NEGLECTED TO LOOK IN THAT 3-RING BINDER BECAUSE THE MECH TOLD ME FRIDAY AFTERNOON THAT THE ACFT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR THE WKEND. I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT WE ARE ALL FALLIBLE AND DOUBLECHKED THE 3-RING BINDER MYSELF. IN TALKING TO THE MECHS AFTERWARDS; I LEARNED THAT BOTH OF THEM THOUGHT ABOUT THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ON FRIDAY; BUT JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO DOING THE INSPECTION.