Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 Helicopters

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-01-51, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires visually inspecting the main rotor hydraulic actuator support (support) to verify the presence of all dowel pins and sealant between the support and transmission and verifying the proper torque of each attaching nut (nut). This amendment is prompted by the failure of a support resulting in an accident of a BHTC Model 222U helicopter. All retaining studs and shear pins were found sheared or pulled out at the junction between the support and the transmission case. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the support and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.