This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is written to inform pilots of the potential hazards associated with carburetor icing.

At this time, this airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 39).

AD 2008-19-02

SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 helicopters. That AD currently requires visually inspecting the main rotor hydraulic actuator support (support) to verify the presence of all dowel pins and sealant between the support and transmission and verifying the proper torque of each attaching nut (nut). This AD requires the same actions as the existing AD and also requires repetitive actions at intervals not to exceed 600 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months, whichever occurs first.

ADMINISTRATOR'S AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ALERT

SUBJECT:  Eurocopter Deutschland Model EC135 Helicopters.

BACKGROUND:  The Rotorcraft Directorate will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) that is prompted by the failure of a tail rotor control rod which resulted in an accident that occurred in Japan.

UNSAFE CONDITION:  The EAD is intended to prevent failure of a tail rotor control rod and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.  The Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan (JCAB) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have issued their own Airworthiness Directives.

ACTION:  The EAD will require, within the next 5 hours time-in-service, inspecting the control rod and adjoining ball pivot and replacing any unairworthy parts before further flight.

IMPACT:   U.S.-registered fleet:  163

                   Worldwide fleet:  2315

Labor Cost per Helicopter:  $80 per work hour.  We estimate 1 work hour to inspect the control rod and ball pivot and 3 work hours to replace a control rod or ball pivot, if necessary. 

                    Parts Cost per Helicopter:  $400 for the control rod and $675 for the ball pivot

                    Total Estimated Cost Impact:  $32,765, assuming 15 helicopters require replacing parts.

AFFECTED U.S. OPERATORS:  General Aviation (Air Tour Operators, Powerline/Pipeline Survey), Law Enforcement.

NEWS VALUE/MEDIA INTEREST:  General press interest.

Regional Duty Officer:  (817) 222-5006 

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB SAIB:  SW-07-16DATE:  February 9, 2007
This is information only.  Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners and operators of Robinson Helicopter Company models R22 and R44 that the rotor blade skin may begin to debond at the skin-to-spar joint on the lower surface at the tip.