Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17747 · Tail rotor control system
Various Restricted Category Helicopters
This AD applies to various restricted category helicopters originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc.; AST, Inc.; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund Helicopters, LLC; International Helicopters, Inc.; JJASPP Engineering Services, LLC; Northwest Rotorcraft, LLC; OAS Parts LLC; Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc.; Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; San Joaquin Helicopters; Smith Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc.; Tamarack Helicopters, Inc.; and Southwest Florida Aviation, Inc., with a cable assembly, part number 205-001-720-001 installed, certificated in any category.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category helicopters, originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell), model numbers HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH- 1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P. This AD requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an incorrectly machined body. This AD is prompted by a report from Bell that a defective body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from fully engaging in the body cavity. These actions are intended to prevent disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the T/R pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
You are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished prior to that time.
(1) Within 25 hours time in service (TIS), inspect each cable assembly to determine if there is a false cut on the body of the barrel assembly, as depicted in Figure 1 of Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. UH-1H-12-08, dated August 28, 2012.
(2) If there is a false cut, before the first flight of each day, inspect the cable assembly for separation of the barrel assembly from the body. If there is any separation, before further flight, replace the cable assembly.
(3) Within 50 hours TIS, replace the cable assembly with an airworthy cable assembly that does not have a false cut in the body. Replacing the cable assembly is terminating action for the inspections required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.
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.
