Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21664 · Main rotor system
Various Restricted Category Helicopters
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2022-06-05. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to various restricted category helicopters originally manufactured by Bell Textron Inc. (Bell), certificated in any category, with an outboard main rotor hub strap pin (pin) part number 204-012-104-005 with a serial number prefix “FNFS” installed. These helicopters include but are not limited to:
(1) Rotorcraft Development Corporation Model HH-1K helicopters;
(2) Robinson Air Crane Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; and Tamarack Helicopters, Inc., Model TH-1F helicopters;
(3) Bell; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc. (type certificate previously held by JTBAM, Inc.); and Rotorcraft Development Corporation Model TH-1L helicopters;
(4) Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc., Model UH-1A helicopters;
(5) International Helicopters, Inc.; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc.; Red Tail Flying Services, LLC; Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc.,; and WSH, LLC (type certificate previously held by San Joaquin Helicopters), Model UH-1B helicopters;
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(5): Helicopters with an SW204 or SW204HP designation are Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc., Model UH-1B helicopters.
(6) Bell; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Smith Helicopters; and West Coast Fabrications Model UH-1E helicopters;
(7) AST, Inc.; California Department of Forestry; Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; and Tamarack Helicopters, Inc., Model UH-1F helicopters;
(8) Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund Helicopters, LLC; JJASPP Engineering Services, LLC; Northwest Rotorcraft, LLC; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc.; Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc.; and Tamarack Helicopters, Inc., Model UH-1H helicopters;
Note 2 to paragraph (c)(8): Helicopters with an SW205 designation are Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc. Model UH-1H helicopters.
(9) Bell; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc.; and Rotorcraft Development Corporation Model UH-1L helicopters; and
(10) Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; and Rotorcraft Development Corporation Model UH-1P helicopters.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category helicopters originally manufactured by Bell Textron Inc. This AD was prompted by a fatal accident in which an outboard main rotor hub strap pin (pin) sheared off during flight, resulting in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head detaching from the helicopter. This AD requires removing certain pins from service and prohibits installing those pins on any helicopter. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these restricted category helicopters and is now issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Before further flight, remove from service any pin that is identified in the introductory text of paragraph (c) of this AD.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any pin that is identified in the introductory text of paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter.
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.
