AD 96-18-15 Amendment 39-9740

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 96-01-08, which superseded Priority Letter AD 95-23-02, both of which were applicable to certain serial-numbered Bell Helicopter Textron, A Division of Textron Canada Ltd. (BHT) Model 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters, that currently requires an initial check of both surfaces of each tail rotor blade (blade) for cracks; an inspection of the blade skin if a crack of a specified size or location is found in the paint; and replacement of the blade if a crack is found in the blade skin. This AD requires the same actions as required by the existing AD, but expands the applicability to include additional blade part numbers (P/N). This amendment is prompted by three incidents in which a crack developed in the stainless steel blade skins due to sanding marks on the blades that occurred during the manufacturing process on BHT Model 230 helicopters, which are similar in design to the Model 222, 222B and 222U helicopters. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of a blade due to a fatigue crack, loss of the tail rotor and tail rotor gear box, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.