Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11101 · Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc., AST, Inc, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., California Department of Forestry, Hagglund Helicopters, LLC, International Helicopters, Inc., Overseas Aircraft Support Inc, Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc., Robinson Air Crane, Inc., Rotorcraft Development Corporation, San Joaquin Helicopters, Smith Helicopters, Southern Helicopter, Inc., Southwest Flo
Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc., AST, Inc, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., California Department of Forestry, Hagglund Helicopters, LLC, International Helicopters, Inc., Overseas Aircraft Support Inc, Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc., Robinson Air Crane, Inc., Rotorcraft Development Corporation, San Joaquin Helicopters, Smith Helicopters, Southern Helicopter, Inc., Southwest Flo
This AD applies to Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc., AST, Inc, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., California Department of Forestry, Hagglund Helicopters, LLC, International Helicopters, Inc., Overseas Aircraft Support Inc, Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc., Robinson Air Crane, Inc., Rotorcraft Development Corporation, San Joaquin Helicopters, Smith Helicopters, Southern Helicopter, Inc., Southwest Florida Aviation International, Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. UH-1H, UH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1E, UH-1L, UH-1B, UH-1A, TH-1F, UH-1P, HH-1K, SW204HP (UH-1B), SW205A-1.
The models as the FAA's AD index lists them. The serial ranges, installed parts and exceptions are in the AD itself: read it at the FAA.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI)-manufactured Model HH-1K, SW204, SW204HP, SW205, SW205A-1, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters. This action requires inspecting the tail rotor yoke (yoke) assembly historical records to determine if the affected yoke assembly has been involved in any incidents that may have induced a bending load. It further requires replacement of the yoke assembly with a yoke assembly that has been x-ray diffraction inspected or has zero hours time-in-service (TIS); installing and inspecting an airworthy flapping stop or trunnion assembly to detect excessive bending loads; and revising the applicable Rotorcraft Flight Manual. This amendment is prompted by in-flight failures of yokes installed on civilian and military helicopters of similar type design, including three reported accidents. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect static or dynamic overload on the yoke due to external bending forces, which could result in failure of the yoke, loss of the tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the 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.
