Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22-Series Helicopters

This amendment supersedes an existing emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for the Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters, that currently requires track-and-balancing certain main rotor blades (blades), replacing blades, and determining the age of each blade and revising the component history card or equivalent maintenance record. This amendment requires the same actions, but changes the applicability and adds clarifying language. It also prohibits the issuance of special flight permits, which the existing AD allows. This amendment is prompted by the need to clarify the existing AD language. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a fatigue crack, blade failure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.