Rule
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
The full text was pulled automatically from the official source and is not Threadline News reporting; the annotations alongside it are.
Agency
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
Action
Final rule.
Summary
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape in the production installation of a washer installed on the tail rotor pitch link assembly (pitch link assembly). This AD requires a one-time visual inspection for proper installation of the washer installed on the pitch link assembly and, depending on the results of the inspection, corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Dates
This AD is effective September 10, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 10, 2026.
Addresses
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-3866; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Material Incorporated by Reference: For Transport Canada material identified in this AD, contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0N5, Canada; phone: (888) 663-3639; email: [email protected]. You may find the Transport Canada material on the Transport Canada website at tc.canada.ca/en/aviation. You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-3866.
For further information contact
David Enns, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4147; email: [email protected].
Supplementary information
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2026 (91 FR 21741). The NPRM was prompted by Transport Canada AD CF-2025-34, dated July 3, 2025, (Transport Canada AD CF-2025-34) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada. The MCAI states Bell Textron Canada Limited has discovered a quality escape in the production installation of the pitch link assemblies where a washer was installed in the wrong location. The MCAI further states this incorrect installation could cause fracture of the pitch horn stud due to fatigue or when the rotor blade exceeds the travel during certain control inputs and blade flapping angles. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in fracture of the pitch horn stud due to fatigue or when the rotor blade exceeds the travel during certain control inputs and blade flapping angles and loss of directional control of the helicopter. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a one-time visual inspection for proper installation of the washer installed on the pitch link assembly and, depending on the results of the inspection, corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-3866.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Transport Canada AD CF-2025-34, which specifies procedures for a one-time visual inspection for proper installation of the pitch link assembly and, depending on the results of the inspection, reassembling the pitch link assembly and washer or removing and replacing the pitch link assembly, tail rotor pitch horn, packings, and conical washer. This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 10 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
Inspect pitch link assembly.............. 1 work-hour x $85 per hour $0 $85 $850 = $85.
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
Replace pitch link assembly, 4 work-hours x $4,396 (per assembly)........... Up to $9,472. tail rotor pitch horn, $85 per hour = packings, and conical washer. $340 (per assembly). Remove and reassemble pitch 1 work-hour x $85 $0.............................. $85. link assembly. per hour = $85.
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.
Authority for This Rulemaking