Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-14341 · Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206A, A-1, B, B-1, L, L-1, L-3, L-4 Helicopters
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206A, A-1, B, B-1, L, L-1, L-3, L-4 Helicopters
Model 206A, A-1, B, B-1, L, L-1, L-3, L-4 helicopters, with tail rotor blade (blade), part number (P/N) 206-016-201-131, serial numbers with a prefix of “CS” and 4820 through 4845, installed, certificated in any category.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) model helicopters that requires, before the first flight of each day, checking the tail rotor blade (blade) root doublers (doublers) for an edge void or de- bond on both sides of each blade, and if an edge void or de-bond is found, replacing the unairworthy blade with an airworthy blade. This AD also requires replacing any affected serial-numbered blade with an airworthy blade. This amendment is prompted by reports of de-bond of the doublers due to inadequate surface preparation resulting in poor adherence of the doublers. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of a blade, loss of tail rotor control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
To prevent loss of a blade, loss of tail rotor control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
(a) Before the first flight of each day, clean each blade and visually check the blade root doublers for an edge void or de-bond on both sides of each blade as depicted in Figure 1 of this AD. An owner/operator (pilot), holding at least a private pilot certificate, may perform this visual check and must enter compliance with this paragraph into the helicopter maintenance records by following 14 CFR sections 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v).
(b) If an edge void or a de-bond is found, before further flight, replace the blade with an airworthy blade with a serial number other than those to which this AD applies.
(c) Within 100 hours time-in-service, replace all affected, serial-numbered blades with airworthy blades with a serial number other than those to which this AD applies.
Note 1: Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin Nos. 206-04-101 and 206L-04-131, both dated September 13, 2004, pertain to the subject of this AD.
(d) Replacing an affected, serial-numbered blade with an airworthy blade without an affected serial number contained in the applicability section of this AD constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this AD for that blade.
(e) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Contact the Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, for information about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
