Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22181 · Tail rotor blades
Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters
This AD applies to the following Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) helicopters, certificated in any category:
(1) Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with a tail rotor blade (blade) part number (P/N) C029-3 with serial number (S/N) 9410 through 9909 inclusive, installed;
(2) Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with a blade P/N C029-3 with S/N 9910 through 10659 inclusive, installed; and
(3) Robinson Model R66 helicopters with a blade P/N F029-1 with S/N 2410 through 2589 inclusive, installed.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-19- 08, which applied to certain Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. AD 2021-19-08 required checking each tail rotor blade (blade) for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. AD 2021-19-08 also required removing all affected blades from service and prohibited installing any affected blade on any helicopter. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-19-08, it was determined that an additional model helicopter and additional blades are affected by the unsafe condition. This AD requires the same actions as AD 2021-19- 08 and adds certain Robinson Model R66 helicopters to the applicability and adds additional part-numbered and serial-numbered blades to the applicability. 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 and thereafter before each flight, check each blade at the leading edge for a crack. This action may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.
(2) If there is any crack, before further flight, remove the blade from service.
(3) For helicopters identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, within 3 months after September 22, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-19-08) remove from service any blade identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD.
(4) For helicopters identified in paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this AD, within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, remove from service any blade identified in paragraph (c)(2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable to your model helicopter.
(5) For helicopters identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, as of September 22, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-19-08), do not install a blade identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD on any helicopter.
(6) For helicopters identified in paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this AD, as of the effective date of this AD, do not install a blade identified in paragraph (c)(2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable to your model helicopter, 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.
Aircraft
