Airworthiness Directives; Various Restricted Category Helicopters
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category helicopters originally manufactured by Bell Textron Inc. This AD was prompted by a fatal accident in which an outboard main rotor hub strap pin (pin) sheared off during flight, resulting in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head detaching from the helicopter. This AD requires removing certain pins from service and prohibits installing those pins on any helicopter. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these restricted category helicopters and is now issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.