The FAA has proposed two new airworthiness directives (ADs) for the tail boom attachment components of certain Bell Textron Inc. helicopter models.

 

Bell 204/205/210 – Revising a 2022 proposed AD, and prompted by events involving failure of the tail boom attachment structure, a new proposed AD would require revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter and repetitive inspections of structural components that attach the tail boom to the fuselage. Depending on the results of the inspections, this proposed AD would require removing certain parts from service or re-bonding the structure. Comments on the new proposed AD are due June 26, 2024.

 

Bell 212/412 – Prompted by reports of cracked tail boom attachment nuts (barrel nuts) involving Model 412EP helicopters, a new proposed AD would require replacing all steel alloy barrel nuts with nickel alloy barrel nuts and, replacing or inspecting other tail boom attachment point hardware and depending on the results, replacing hardware, stabilizing torque, and applying torque stripes. This proposed AD would also require repetitively inspecting torque and, depending on the results, corrective action. This proposed AD would require repetitively replacing the upper left-hand tail boom attachment bolt and repetitively inspecting the other tail boom attachment point bolts. Lastly, this proposed AD would prohibit installing steel alloy barrel nuts. Comments on the new proposed AD are due June 24, 2024.