EASA Safety Information Notice No.: 2007-25 Issued: 17 September 2007 Subject: Tail Rotor Blades installed on Bell Helicopters Ref. Publication: Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2007-21, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Emergency AD 2007-19-53 (copies attached to this SIN) and associated Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletins: Helicopter Model State of Design Alert Service Bulletin Date 204B USA 204-07-61 11 September 2007 205A, 205A-1 USA 205-07-95 11 September 2007 205B USA 205B-07-46 11 September 2007 206 series Canada 206-07-116 11 September 2007 206L series Canada 206L-07-148 11 September 2007 212 USA 212-07-125 11 September 2007 222 and 222B Canada 222-07-106 Rev. A 13 September 2007 222U Canada 222U-07-77 Rev. A 13 September 2007 230 Canada 230-07-38 Rev. A 13 September 2007 407 Canada 407-07-81 11 September 2007 412 USA 412-07-123 11 September 2007 427 Canada 427-07-18 11 September 2007 430 Canada 430-07-41 Rev. A 13 September 2007 The ASBs can be downloaded from http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/#downloads Introduction: Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), the responsible authority of the State of Design for a number of the affected helicopter types, has received three reports of balance weights departing from the tail rotor blades during flight. The cause has been narrowed down to weight screws that were not installed during repair. This failure can happen at any time. To address the unsafe condition, TCCA has issued an Emergency AD (EAD) to order owners and operators of Bell helicopters to identify and inspect the affected tail rotor blades (identified by Part- and Serial Number in Bell ASB s) and take corrective action, as necessary. Concurrently with the TCCA EAD, the FAA, the responsible authority of the State of Design for the US-manufactured Bell types affected by this problem, published EAD 2007-19-53 to page 1 of 2
require those same actions from owners and operators of USmanufactured Bell helicopters. According to Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA has only taken over Member States obligations that are related to design approval. As a consequence, EASA is only authorised to issue ADs related to design approval. EASA has determined that the above referenced TCCA EAD and FAA EAD are not related to design approval, as the unsafe condition is the result of improperly accomplished repairs and that the type designs are not affected. However, this is a serious safety issue and this Safety Information has been issued accordingly. The National Aviation Authorities of the EU member states may adopt the referenced EADs under their State of Registry responsibility. Applicability: Bell 204B, 205 Series, 206 Series, 206L Series, 212, 222 Series, 230, 407, 412 Series, 427 and 430 helicopters. Note: The FAA EAD also refers to Bell Models 210 and 412CF; these have not been validated in Europe at this time. Recommendation: This Safety Information Notice is for information only. Contact: For further information contact the Section Airworthiness Directives, Certification Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu. page 2 of 2
Transport Canada Transports Canada TP 7245E No. 1/1 CF-2007-21 Issue Date 13 September 2007 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE The following airworthiness directive (AD) may be applicable to an aircraft which our records indicate is registered in your name. ADs are issued pursuant to Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR) 593. Pursuant to CAR 605.84 and the further details of CAR Standard 625, Appendix H, the continuing airworthiness of a Canadian registered aircraft is contingent upon compliance with all applicable ADs. Failure to comply with the requirements of an AD may invalidate the flight authorization of the aircraft. Alternative means of compliance shall be applied for in accordance with CAR 605.84 and the above-referenced Standard. This AD has been issued by the Continuing Airworthiness Division (AARDG), Aircraft Certification Branch, Transport Canada, Ottawa, telephone (613) 952-4357. URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT TRANSPORT CANADA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE PLEASE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY TO THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR AIRCRAFT Number: Subject: Effective: Applicability: Compliance: Background: Corrective Actions: CF-2007-21 Tail Rotor Blades Upon receipt Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) all helicopter Models: 206 series, 222 series, 230, 407, 427 and 430 Before further flight unless already accomplished. There were three reports of balance weights departing from the tail rotor blades during flight. The cause has been narrowed down to missing weight screws. This failure can happen at any time. Verify if the affected blades are installed on the helicopter as per applicable Alert Service Bulleting (ASB) listed below, or later revisions approved by Chief, Continuing Airworthiness, Transport Canada. Remove the affected blades before further flight and replace with airworthy parts. Authorization: For Minister of Transport Helicopter Model Alert Service Bulletin Date 206 series 206-07-116 11 September 2007 206L series 206L-07-148 11 September 2007 222 and 222B 222-07-106 11 September 2007 222U 222U-07-77 11 September 2007 230 230-07-38 11 September 2007 407 407-07-81 11 September 2007 427 427-07-18 11 September 2007 430 430-07-41 11 September 2007 B. Goyaniuk Chief, Continuing Airworthiness Contact: Mr. Bogdan Gajewski, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa, telephone (613) 952-4450, facsimile (613) 996-9178 or e-mail gajewsb@tc.gc.ca or any Transport Canada Centre. Pursuant to CAR 202.51 the registered owner of a Canadian aircraft shall, within seven days, notify the Minister in writing of any change of his or her name or address. To request a change of address, contact the Civil Aviation Communications Centre (AARA) at Place de Ville, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8, or 1-800-305-2059. 24-0022 (01-2001) This document is available on the web at : http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/ad/ad_e.htm
EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/ U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration DATE: September 14, 2007 AD #: 2007-19-53 Send to all U.S. owners and operators of Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters, certificated in any category, with certain part-numbered and serial-numbered tail rotor blades installed. This Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by three incidents in which tail rotor blade (blade) tip weights were slung from the blades during flight, causing significant vibration. The failures have occurred on blades being returned to service from Rotor Blades, Inc. (RBI), from as short as 12 minutes since repair to as long as 400 hours time-in-service. An investigation indicates that the tip weights were missing the adhesive applied during the weight-and-balance process on these blades. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of the blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. We have reviewed the following BHTI Alert Service Bulletins (ASB): No. 204-07-61 for BHTI Model 204 helicopters, No. 205-07-95 for BHTI Model 205 helicopters, No. 205B-07-46 for BHTI Model 205B helicopters, No. 212-07-125 for BHTI Model 212 helicopters, and No. 412-07-123 for BHTI Model 230 helicopters, All the ASBs are dated September 11, 2007, and contain a letter from RBI indicating certain blades processed by RBI may be missing the adhesive applied to the tip weight screws during the weight and balance process. This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, this AD requires, before further flight, replacing each affected blade with an airworthy blade. This rule is issued under 49 U.S.C. Section 44701 pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, and is effective immediately upon receipt of this emergency AD. 2007-19-53 BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON, INC.: Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-37-AD. Applicability: Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters, with a tail rotor blade (blade), having a part and serial number as listed in the following table, installed, certificated in any category. 1
Part Number Serial Number 204-011-702-015 AFS-12703, AFS-12893, AFS-23525, or AFS-23573 204-011-702-121 A-22020 212-010-750-105FM A-10090, A-10836, A-11207, or A-11332 212-010-750-113 A-14953, A15090, or CS-12702 212-010-750-113FM A-12240, A-12296, A-12640, A-12670, A-12789, A-13033, A-13096, A-13134, A-13199, A-13264, or A-13366 212-010-750-133 A15602 Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously. To prevent loss of the blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter do the following: (a) Before further flight, replace any affected blade with an airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the applicability section of this AD. (b) 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, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 222-5783, for information about previously approved alternative methods of compliance. 2
(c) Special flight permits will not be issued. (d) Copies of the applicable service information may be obtained from Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466. (e) Emergency AD 2007-19-53, issued September 14, 2007, becomes effective upon receipt. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 222-5783. Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 14, 2007. Mark R. Schilling, Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 3