Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21971 · Main rotor system
Various Restricted Category Helicopters
This AD applies to the following various restricted category helicopters with a main rotor hub strap pin (pin) part number 204-012-104-005 with a serial number prefix “FNFS” installed:
(1) Model HH-1K helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Rotorcraft Development Corporation;
(2) Model SW205A-1 helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc.;
(3) Model TH-1F helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Robinson Air Crane Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; and Tamarack Helicopters, Inc.;
(4) Model TH-1L helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Bell Textron Inc.; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc. (type certificate previously held by JTBAM, Inc.); and Rotorcraft Development Corporation;
(5) Model UH-1A helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc.;
(6) Model UH-1B helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to 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);
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(6): Helicopters with an SW204 or SW204HP designation are Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc., Model UH-1B helicopters.
(7) Model UH-1E helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Bell Textron Inc.; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Smith Helicopters; and West Coast Fabrications;
(8) Model UH-1F helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to AST, Inc.; California Department of Forestry; Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; and Tamarack Helicopters, Inc.;
(9) Model UH-1H helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to 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.;
Note 2 to paragraph (c)(9): Helicopters with an SW205 designation are Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc., Model UH-1H helicopters.
(10) Model UH-1L helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Bell Textron Inc.; Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc.; and Rotorcraft Development Corporation; and
(11) Model UH-1P helicopters; current type certificate holders include but are not limited to Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; and Rotorcraft Development Corporation.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-15-52 which applied to various restricted category helicopters originally manufactured by Bell Textron Inc. with a certain main rotor hub strap pin (pin) installed. AD 2021-15-52 required removing certain outboard pins from service and prohibited installing them on any helicopter. This AD expands the applicability to all affected pins, regardless if they are outboard or inboard. This AD also requires inspecting the removed pin for any deformation and if it is deformed, removing the mating strap fitting (fitting) from service. This AD was prompted by the discovery that AD 2021-15-52 inadvertently limited its applicability to only outboard pins when, in fact, all pins are subject to the unsafe condition and the determination that a deformed pin may have damaged the fitting. Finally, this AD updates the current type certificate holder information as reflected in the type certificate data sheet (TCDS) and expands the applicability of AD 2021-15-52. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, remove from service any pin that is identified in the introductory text of paragraph (c) of this AD and inspect it for any deformity. If the pin is deformed, remove from service the mating strap fitting (P/N 212-010-103-ALL or 204-012-103-ALL).
(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.
