Action
Final rule; request for comments.
Summary
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Inc. (type certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a fatal accident in which an outboard main rotor hub strap pin (pin) sheared off during flight, resulting in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head detaching from the helicopter. This AD requires removing the pins from service before further flight and prohibits installing them on any helicopter. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters and is now issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.