Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16295 · Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF and Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB412, AB412EP Helicopters
Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF and Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB412, AB412EP Helicopters
Bell Helicopter Textron Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF and Agusta S.p.A. Model AB412, AB412EP helicopters, certificated in any category, with Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI) Low Skid Landing Gear Forward Crosstube (Crosstube), part number (P/N) 212-320-103, with a serial number (S/N) prefix of “AA” and an S/N of 574 through 628, installed.
Note 1: Crosstube, P/N 212-320-103, is also included as part of AAI Low Skid Gear Assembly Kits, P/N 412-320-500 and 412-320-502.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI) Low Skid Landing Gear Forward Crosstube (Crosstube) on certain Bell and Agusta model helicopters. This action requires replacing certain AAI serial-numbered crosstubes installed on these model helicopters. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of a defect in the raw material used in manufacturing certain crosstubes. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of a crosstube and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.
To prevent failure of a crosstube and subsequent collapse of the landing gear, do the following:
(a) Within 25 hours time-in-service, replace any affected crosstube with an airworthy crosstube.
Note 2: AAI Alert Service Bulletin No. AA-10012, dated March 5, 2010, references the AAI Instructions for Continued Airworthiness AA-01136, which contains guidance on replacing the crosstubes.
(b) 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 Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office: ATTN: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Martin R. Crane, ASW-170, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783, for information about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
(c) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 3250: Landing Gear System.
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.
