AD 2013-19-05 Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Helicopters

This AD becomes effective November 5, 2013.

(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Martin Crane, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5056; email 7-AVS-ASW-170@faa.gov . (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office or certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC.

Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 214-08-70, Revision C, dated April 14, 2009; Bell ASB No. 214ST-08-86, Revision B, dated April 14, 2009; and Bell Information Letter 214ST-12-23, dated January 30, 2012, which are not incorporated by reference, contain additional information about the subject of this AD. For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101; telephone (817) 280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review a copy of this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS): (i) Create a component history card or equivalent record for each spindle, P/N 214-030-606-005 and 214-030-606-103, recording the spindle's P/N and serial number. (ii) Review the helicopter records to determine the hours TIS of each spindle, if the hours TIS are not already recorded for your model helicopter. For each month for which the hours TIS is unknown, record 75 hours TIS. (iii) Determine the total accumulated retirement index number (RIN) for each spindle. For the purpose of this AD, count 1 RIN for each takeoff and 2 RIN for each external load lift in which the helicopter achieves a vertical altitude difference of greater than 200 feet indicated altitude between the pick-up and drop-off point. For any time period for which the accumulated RIN cannot be determined while the spindle was installed on a helicopter, multiply the hours TIS by 30 to calculate the spindle's accumulated RIN. (iv) Record the hours TIS and total accumulated RIN for each spindle on the component history card or equivalent record. (2) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the applicable maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness as follows: (i) By establishing a new retirement life for the spindle, P/N 214-030-606-005, of 1,250 hours TIS or a total accumulated RIN of 20,000, whichever occurs first. (ii) By reducing the retirement life for the spindle, P/N 214-030-606-103, from 5,000 hours TIS to 2,500 hours TIS or a total accumulated RIN of 50,000, whichever occurs first. (3) Replace any spindle, P/N 214-030-606-005, that has been in service for 1,250 or more hours TIS, or a total accumulated RIN of 20,000 or more, whichever occurs first. (4) Replace any spindle, P/N 214-030-606-103, that has been in service for 2,500 or more hours TIS, or a total accumulated RIN of 50,000 or more, whichever occurs first. (5) Continue to count and record the accumulated RIN count and hours TIS for each spindle on its component history card or equivalent record.

This AD defines the unsafe condition as fatigue cracking of a spindle. This condition could result in failure of the spindle and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.