Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11455 · California Department of Forestry, Overseas Aircraft Support Inc, San Joaquin Helicopters, Smith Helicopters, Southwest Florida Aviation International, Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc., AST Inc., Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hagglund Helicopters LLC, International Helicopters Inc., Richards Heavylift Helo Inc., Robinson Air Crane Inc., Rotorcraft Development Corporation, Sout
California Department of Forestry, Overseas Aircraft Support Inc, San Joaquin Helicopters, Smith Helicopters, Southwest Florida Aviation International, Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc., AST Inc., Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hagglund Helicopters LLC, International Helicopters Inc., Richards Heavylift Helo Inc., Robinson Air Crane Inc., Rotorcraft Development Corporation, Sout
This AD applies to California Department of Forestry, Overseas Aircraft Support Inc, San Joaquin Helicopters, Smith Helicopters, Southwest Florida Aviation International, Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc., AST Inc., Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hagglund Helicopters LLC, International Helicopters Inc., Richards Heavylift Helo Inc., Robinson Air Crane Inc., Rotorcraft Development Corporation, Southern Helicopter Inc., 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 supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell)-manufactured Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 helicopters, that currently requires modification and inspections of the tailboom vertical fin spar (vertical fin spar). This amendment requires the same modification and inspections plus two additional inspections and replacement of the vertical fin spar. This amendment is prompted by 6 accidents, 2 of which involved fatalities, involving fatigue cracks in the vertical fin spar that have occurred since the issuance of AD 97-20-09. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent in-flight failure of the vertical fin spar 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.
