AD/Bell 427/12 Cyclic Control Lever Assembly Installation (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 427 Series Helicopters

AD/BELL 427/12 Cyclic Control Lever Assembly Installation 12/2009

Applicability:

Model 427 helicopters, all serial numbers.

Requirement:

For helicopters with less than 50 flight hours in service or with a cyclic lever assembly installed within the last 50 flight hours:

Perform a one time inspection and if required, rectification, of the cyclic lever assembly installation, in accordance with accomplishment instructions provided in Bell Alert Service bulletin 427-09-23 dated 10 March 2009, or later Transport Canada approved revision.

Note:  Transport Canada AD CF-2009-10R1 refers.

Compliance:

Before further flight after 19 November 2009, unless already accomplished.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 19 November 2009.

Background:

An incorrectly installed bearing Part Number 206-301-051-101, in the co-pilot cyclic control lever assembly has been discovered during manufacturing.  It is possible, that an incorrectly installed bearing could be found in any aircraft with a recently installed cyclic control lever assembly.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

28 September 2009