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96-18-05 R1: Tailboom

FAA order 96-18-05 R1 is an airworthiness directive in force since December 21, 2010. The FAA's subject line: Tailboom. It names Bell 206 JetRanger and LongRanger: about 1,453 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 Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
Models
206L, 206L-1, 206L-3
On this site
Bell 206 JetRanger and LongRanger 1,453 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
December 21, 2010
Published
November 16, 2010 (signed October 26, 2010)
Docket
FAA-2008-1242
Replaces
96-18-05
Status
Current
The FAA's document
Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

This amendment revises an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 helicopters with a certain part numbered tailboom installed, that currently requires a visual inspection of the tailboom skin in the areas around the nutplates and in the areas of the tailboom drive shaft cover retention clips for cracks and corrosion using a 10-power or higher magnifying glass until the tailboom is replaced with an airworthy tailboom. This action requires the same actions as the existing AD, but allows a longer interval for the repetitive inspections if the tailboom is modified to increase its structural integrity. Replacement with an airworthy tailboom other than a part- numbered tailboom affected by this amendment constitutes a terminating action for the requirements of this AD. This amendment is prompted by an accident and several reports of fatigue cracks in the tailboom skin in the areas around the nutplates for the tail rotor fairing and in the areas of the tail rotor drive shaft cover retention clips. The actions required by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the tailboom and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (3,854 characters)
96-18-05 R1 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Amendment 39-16511. Docket No. FAA-2008-1242; Directorate Identifier 96-SW-13-AD. Revises AD 96-18-05, Amendment 39-9729. Applicability: Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 helicopters, with tailboom, part number (P/N) 206-033-004-003, -011, -45, -045, or - 103, installed, certificated in any category. Compliance: Required as indicated. To prevent failure of the tailboom and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following: (a) Before further flight, unless accomplished previously, using a 10-power or higher magnifying glass, inspect the tailboom for cracks or corrosion in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part II, steps (1) through (7), of Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L-87-47, Revision C, dated October 23, 1989 (ASB). (b) For a tailboom that has not been modified in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part I of the ASB, using a 10-power or highermagnifying glass, inspect the tailboom for a crack at intervals not to exceed 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part II, steps (1) through (7), of the ASB. (c) For a tailboom that has been modified in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part I of the ASB, using a 10-power or higher magnifying glass, inspect the tailboom for a crack or corrosion at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part II and Part III of the ASB, except you are not required to contact the manufacturer. (d) If a crack or corrosion is detected that is beyond the repairable limits stated in the applicable maintenance manual, remove the tailboom and replace it with an airworthy tailboom. (e) Replacing the tailboom with a tailboom, P/N 206-033-004-143 or -177, or an airworthy part-numbered tailboom that is not listed in the Applicability section of this AD, constitutes a terminating action for the requirements of this AD. (f) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Contact the Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, ATTN: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, ASW-111, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 222-5961, for information about previously approved alternative methods of compliance. (g) Special flight permits will not be issued. (h) You must use Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Alert Service Bulletin 206L-87-47, Revision C, dated October 23, 1989, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) On September 16, 1996 (61 FR 45876, August 30, 1996), the Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Alert Service Bulletin 206L-87-47, Revision C, dated October 23, 1989. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4, telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023, fax (450) 433- 0272, or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. (3) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas. (4) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http:// www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ ibr_locations.html. (i) This amendment becomes effective on December 21, 2010.

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2019-12-05SW-19-18 · Fuselage Cracks
2019-04-04SW-19-05 · Tail Rotor Drive System, Spline Damage
2017-11-02SW-18-02 · Loss of Hardware Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Couplings
2015-08-13SW-15-20 · Air Conditioning System Wiring
2012-10-03SW-12-45 · Garmin Model 400W/500W Series GPS-WAAS Navigation System

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/96-18-05 R1.json · aircraft systems.