Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11153 · Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, and 222U Helicopters
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, and 222U Helicopters
Model 222 helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 47006 through 47089, Model 222B helicopters, S/N's 47131 through 47156, and Model 222U helicopters, S/N's 47501 through 47574, certificated in any category.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to BHTC Model 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters. This action requires initial and repetitive visual inspections and verification of the torque of the bolts on the main rotor hub. This amendment is prompted by a report of fatigue cracks around the bolt holes of the main rotor pitch horn (pitch horn) and a cracked main rotor flapping bearing assembly (flapping bearing assembly) on a BHTC Model 222 helicopter. This condition, if not corrected, could result in fretting-induced fatigue cracking of the flapping bearing assembly and around the bolt holes of the pitch horn, loss of the rotor system, 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.
