Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
airworthiness · Rule · Final rule; request for comments. · Published 2012-04-19 · Effective 2012-05-04 · 77 FR 23388
Document
Document number
2012-9314
Federal Register citation
77 FR 23388
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule; request for comments.
Category
airworthiness
Manufacturer
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
Publication date
2012-04-19
Effective date
2012-05-04
FAA docket
Docket No. FAA-2012-0395
Abstract
We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters with certain main rotor blades installed to reduce the life limit of those blades. This AD is prompted by two accidents and the subsequent investigations that revealed that, in each accident, a main rotor blade failed because of fatigue cracking. These actions are intended to prevent failure of the main rotor blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.