AD 98-07-09

Applies to

Model 47B, 47B-3, 47D, 47D-1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G- 4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A, 47H-1, 47J, 47J-2, 47J-2A, and 47K helicopters, certificated in any category.

The FAA's summary

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 47B, 47B-3, 47D, 47D-1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G- 3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A, 47H-1, 47J, 47J-2, 47J- 2A, and 47K helicopters, that requires installing a safety washer kit designed to preclude separation of the stabilizer bar damper link (damper link) if the damper link rod end bushing (bushing) loosens and exits the damper link rod end. This amendment is prompted by two reported incidents in which the bushings loosened and exited the damper link rod ends, allowing the damper link to slide over the retention bolt and separate from the stabilizer bar (in the first incident), and from the hydraulic damper (in the second incident). The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the damper link assembly, which can result in degraded control response and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Filed under

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.

Official sources

• The Federal Register document · document 98-8466, the legal text
• FAA Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) · search 98-07-09 for its current status and any corrections