AD 2022-02-02 Continues The Required Actions In AD 2021-15-51 And Expands The Applicability To Add Model 210 Helicopters

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-15-51, which applied to Bell Textron Inc. (type certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters. AD 2021-15-51 required removing certain main rotor hub strap pins (pins) from service and prohibited installing them on any helicopter. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-15-51, it wa

s determined that a defective pin could also be installed on Bell Textron Inc. Model 210 helicopters. This AD continues the required actions in AD 2021-15-51 and expands the applicability to add Model 210 helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective February 16, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued Emergency AD 2021-15-51 on July 6, 2021, and it published as a Final rule; request for comments on August 9, 2021 as Amendment 39-21678 (86 FR 43406) (AD 2021-15-51).

AD 2021-15-51 applied to Bell Textron Inc., Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters with a pin part number (P/N) 204-012-104-005 with a serial number (S/N) prefix “FNFS” installed. AD 2021-15-51 was prompted by a fatal accident of a Model 212 helicopter in which a pin P/N 204-012-104-005 with an S/N prefix “FNFS” sheared off during flight, which resulted in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head detaching from the helicopter. The pin had accumulated only 20 total hours time-in-service (TIS). An inspection of a different Model 212 helicopter revealed that another pin installed, and made by the same manufacturer and with the same S/N prefix, was deformed; this pin had accumulated only 29 total hours TIS. Because an affected pin could also be installed on other helicopters, AD 2021-15-51 also applied to Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, and 205B helicopters.

Failure of a pin could result in the main rotor blade detaching from the helicopter and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

After AD 2021-15-51 was issued, it was determined that an affected pin could also be installed on Model 210 helicopters. Therefore, the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-15-51. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2021 (86 FR 64832) and it proposed to continue to require all of the requirements of AD 2021-15-51 and add Model 210 helicopters to the applicability.

FMI: www.regulations.gov