2022-20-11: Rotorcraft tailboom

FAA order 2022-20-11 is an airworthiness directive in force since November 28, 2022. The FAA's subject line: Rotorcraft tailboom. It names Bell 429: about 172 aircraft on the U.S. register today, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: rotorcraft systems.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product: Aircraft
Makes: Bell Textron Canada Limited
Models: 429
On this site: Bell 429 172 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since: November 28, 2022
Published: October 24, 2022 (signed September 19, 2022)
Docket: FAA-2021-1074
Status: Current
The FAA's document: Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of failed rivets between the tailboom skin and the tail rotor (TR) gearbox support assembly. This AD requires 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 AD requires removing certain rivets from service or repairing gaps in accordance with an approved method. This AD also requires repeating these inspections within certain intervals. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (314 characters)

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. Issued on September 19, 2022. Christina Underwood, Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2022-22593 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2010-08-05SW-10-15R1 · Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 429 Helicopters with Certain Clam Shell Doors

2010-02-05SW-10-15 · Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Model 429 Helicopters with Clam Shell Doors

Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of October 5, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2022-20-11.json · aircraft systems.