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Airworthiness Directive 03-1189

one-time
AD 03-1189 · 2003-01-21 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc. Model 369D, 369E, 369F, and 369FF Helicopters

What this AD requires

This amendment revises an airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) helicopters that currently requires identifying the part number (P/N) of the bolts that attach the tail rotor gearbox to the tailboom and replacing any bolt of inadequate grip length with an airworthy bolt. That AD also requires adding an additional washer if more than four threads protrude from the nutplate. This amendment requires the same actions as the existing AD but reduces the applicability to only certain tailboom serial numbers and parts modified in accordance with either Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SH5055NM or SH4801NM. This amendment also corrects a typographical error and clarifies that a slippage mark needs to be reapplied to each bolt regardless of the outcome of the required torque test. This amendment is prompted by the need to correct and clarify the applicability and other portions of the existing AD. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of a tail rotor gearbox due to bolts of inadequate grip length and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Which aircraft AD 03-1189 applies to

Applicability depends on the aircraft’s type certificate — check it against the specific tail.

Whether AD 03-1189 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.

How AD compliance is recorded

A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:

Method of compliance — The specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
Date — When the work was done.
Aircraft time — Total time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificate — The A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 03-1189 complied with on your aircraft?

Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.

Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)

Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.