Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

Official abstract: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-20- 11, which applied to certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters. AD 2022-20-11 required visually inspecting the external surface of the tail rotor (TR) gearbox support assembly, borescope inspecting or visually inspecting the inside of the tail boom, and performing a tactile inspection. Depending on the results of the inspections, AD 2022-20-11 required removing certain rivets from service or repairing gaps in accordance with an approved method. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-20-11, the manufacturer determined the repetitive inspection interval needs to be reduced. This AD requires the same actions as AD 2022-20-11 and reduces the inspection interval. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.