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90-03-10: Tail Rotor Grips

FAA order 90-03-10 is an airworthiness directive in force since October 18, 1991. The FAA's subject line: Tail Rotor Grips. It names Bell 204, Bell 205, Bell UH-1 Huey (Iroquois), Northwest Rotorcraft Llc UH-1, Southwest Florida Aviation SW205: about 474 aircraft on the U.S. register today across them, 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
Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc.; AST, Inc; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.; California Department of Forestry; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund Helicopters, LLC; International Helicopters, Inc.; Northwest Rotorcraft, LLC; Overseas Aircraft Support Inc; Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc.; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; Rotorcraft Development Corporation; San Joaquin Helicopters; Smith Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida Aviation International; Tamarack Helicopters, Inc.; West Coast Fabrications
Models
UH-1H, UH-1F, 204B, 205A, 205A-1, TH-1L, UH-1E, UH-1L, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1H, UH-1B, UH-1H, TH-1L, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1H, UH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1H, TH-1L, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1B, SW205A-1, UH-1B, UH-1H, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1E
On this site
Bell 204 7 registered
Bell 205 58 registered
Bell UH-1 Huey (Iroquois) 398 registered
Northwest Rotorcraft Llc UH-1 6 registered
Southwest Florida Aviation SW205 5 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
October 18, 1991
Docket
90-ASW-09
Status
Current
The FAA's document
Read the order on the FAA's site

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (1,954 characters)
90-03-10 BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON, INC. (BHTI); CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY; GARLICK HELICOPTERS; HAWKINS AND POWERS AVIATION; HERCULES; INTERNATIONAL HELICOPTERS, INC.; LENAIR CORPORATION; OFFSHORE CONSTRUCTION; OREGON HELICOPTERS; PILOT PERSONNEL INTERNATIONAL; SMITH HELICOPTERS; SOUTHERN AERO CORPORATION; SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AVIATION; and WEST COAST FABRICATIONS: Amendment 39-8029. Docket No. 90-ASW-09. Final Rule of Priority Letter AD 90-03-10. Applicability: All Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and TH-1L helicopters, certificated in any category, with aluminum tail rotor grips, P/N 204-011-728-19, installed. Compliance: Required before further flight, unless already accomplished. To prevent failure of a tail rotor grip, which could result in loss of tail rotor control, accomplish the following: (a) Determine the part numbers and serial numbers of the tail rotor grips installed on the helicopter. (b) If the tail rotor grip installed is P/N 204-011-728-19 and is identified with any serial number listed below, remove and replace the grip with an airworthy part before further flight: Serial Numbers: A3-66287 A3-66333 A3-66356 A3-66361 A3-66365 A3-66370 A3-66377 A3-67149 A3-67171 A3-67184 A3-67207 (c) In accordance with FAR Sections 21.197 and 21.199, the helicopter may be flown to a base where the inspection and grip replacement may be accomplished. (d) An alternate method of compliance which provides an equivalent level of safety, may be used if approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 624-5170. This Amendment (39-8029, AD 90-03-10) becomes effective on October 18, 1991, as to all persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately effective by Priority Letter AD 90-03-10 issued January 29, 1990, which contained this amendment.

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2019-02-19SW-18-29R1 · Rotorcraft Tail Boom, Attach Structure Failure
2018-10-01SW-18-29 · Rotorcraft Tail Boom, Attach Structure Failure
2012-07-30SW-12-38 · Emergency Push Out Window Retention
2007-05-02SW-07-33 · Quick connect fittings
2004-11-30SW-05-10R1 ·

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 November 6, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/90-03-10.json · aircraft systems.