AD/Bell 222/31 Amdt 1 Tail Rotor Blade (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BELL 222/31 and issues the following 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 Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters

AD/BELL 222/31 Amdt 1 Tail Rotor Blade 13/2006

Applicability:

Models 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters.

Requirement:

1.    Inspect the tail rotor blades in accordance with Part I of Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 222U-04-71 Revision A or ASB 222-04-100 Revision A, as applicable; or later Transport Canada approved revision.

2.    Inspect the tail rotor blades in accordance with Part II of ASB 222U-04-71 Revision A or ASB 222-04-100 Revision A, as applicable; or later Transport Canada approved revision.

3.    Rework the tail rotor blades in accordance with Part III of ASB 222U-04-71 Revision A or ASB 222-04-100 Revision A, as applicable; or later Transport Canada approved revision.

Note 1:  Reworking the tail rotor blades in accordance with Requirement 3 eliminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this Directive.

Note 2:  Transport Canada AD CF-2004-21 R2 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Within 3 flight hours after 29 June 2005, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3 flight hours; until compliance with Requirement 3.

2.    Within 50 flight hours after 29 June 2005, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 flight hours; until compliance with Requirement 3.

3.    Before 31 May 2008.

The compliance times for Requirements 1 and 2 remain unchanged by this issue of the Directive.

This Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required.  The Requirement 1 inspection may be performed and certified by the Pilot in Command who has been trained to do the inspection by an appropriately qualified person.  In this case, a copy of the Requirement document and this Directive is to be carried on the aircraft.

This Amendment becomes effective on 21 December 2006.

Background:

Reports were received of three occurrences of cracked tail rotor blades which were discovered during scheduled inspection.  Two cracks initiated from the outboard bearing bore underneath the flanged sleeves.  The third crack initiated from the inboard bearing bore.  Corrosion and machining burrs are suspected as the crack initiators.

Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related Transport Canada AD, which introduces terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

8 November 2006