Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

FAA / Federal Register · 2021-27622

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of failed rivets between the tailboom skin and the tail rotor (TR) gearbox support assembly. This proposed AD would require visually inspecting the external surface of the TR gearbox support assembly, borescope inspecting or visually inspecting the inside of the tailboom for certain conditions, and performing a tactile inspection. Depending on the results of the inspections, this proposed AD would require removing certain rivets from service or repairing gaps in accordance with FAA-approved methods. This proposed AD would also require repeating these inspections within certain intervals. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.