Airworthiness Directives; Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously Utah State University); AST, Inc. (previously Firefly Aviation Helicopter Services, and Erickson Air-Crane); Rotorcraft Development Corporation (previously Garlick Helicopters, Inc.); Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund Helicopters, LLC (previously Western International Aviation, Inc.); International Helicopters, Inc.; Northwest Rotorcraft, LLC (previously Precision Helicopters, LLC); Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; San Joaquin Helicopters (previously Hawkins & Powers Aviation); S.M. &T. Aircraft (previously US Helicopter Inc., UNC Helicopters, Inc., Southern Aero Corporation, and Wilco Aviation); Smith Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc. (previously Mr. Jamie R. Hill and Southwest Florida Aviation, Inc.); Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. (previously Ranger Helicopter Services, Inc.); US Helicopter, Inc. (previously Williams Helicopter Tech., Southern Aero Corp., Oregon Helicopters and Lenair Corp); West Coast Fabrications; and Overseas Aircraft Support Inc. (previously Williams Helicopter Corporation, Scott Paper Company and Offshores Construction) Model AH-1G, AH-1S, 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 Model UH-1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) Helicopters
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI) Low Skid Landing Gear Forward Crosstube (crosstube) installed on the specified helicopters. This action requires replacing certain AAI serial-numbered crosstubes installed on these model helicopters. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of a defect in the raw material used in manufacturing certain crosstubes. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of a crosstube and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.