Ad/Bell 212/68 - Tail Rotor Blades (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Bell Helicopter Textron 212 Series Helicopters

AD/BELL 212/68 Tail Rotor Blades 12/2007 TX

Applicability:

Model 212 helicopters, with a tail rotor blade having a part number and serial number as listed below, installed.

Part number 204-011-702-015, serial numbers AFS-12703, AFS-12893, AFS-23525, or AFS-23573

Part number 204-011-702-121, serial number A-22020

Part number 212-010-750-105FM, serial numbers A-10090, A-10836, A-11207, or
A-11332

Part number 212-010-750-113, serial numbers A-14953, A15090, or CS-12702

Part number 212-010-750-113FM, serial numbers A-12240, A-12296, A-12640,
A-12670, A-12789, A-13033, A-13096, A-13134, A-13199, A-13264, or A-13366

Part number 212-010-750-133, serial number A15602

Requirement:

Replace any affected blade with a serviceable blade with a serial number not listed in the applicability section of this Directive.

Note 1:  BHTI Alert Service Bulletin No. 212-07-125, or later FAA approved revision, refers.

Note 2:  FAA Emergency AD 2007-19-53 refers.

Compliance:

Before further flight after 18 September 2007.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 September 2007.

Background: The FAA received reports of three incidents in which tail rotor blade tip weights were slung from the blades during flight, causing significant vibration.  The failures have occurred on blades being returned from Rotor Blades Inc., from as short as 10 minutes since repair to as long as 400 flight hours.  An investigation indicates that the tip weights were missing the adhesive applied during the weight-and-balance process on these blades.  This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of the blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

17 September 2007