Is AD 2003-08-51 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

No — AD 2003-08-51 is a one-time directive. Verify it was complied with in the aircraft's records.

Which aircraft does AD 2003-08-51 apply to?

AD 2003-08-51 applies to Md Helicopters — models 369A, 369D, 369E, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369F. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 2003-08-51

one-time

Official AD 2003-08-51 · FR doc 03-16687 · 2003-07-02 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc. Model 369A, D, E, H, HE, HM, HS, F, and FF Helicopters

What this AD requires

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-08-51, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified model MD Helicopters, Inc. helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires reducing the retirement life of certain tail rotor blades, performing a one-time visual inspection of each tail rotor blade pitch horn (pitch horn) for a crack or corrosion, and replacing unairworthy tail rotor blades with airworthy tail rotor blades. This AD also requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the helicopter maintenance manual to reflect the reduced retirement life, and reporting information to the FAA within 24 hours following the one- time inspection. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a pitch horn from separating from the tail rotor blade, leading to an unbalanced condition, vibration, loss of tail rotor pitch control, and loss of directional control of the helicopter.

Which aircraft AD 2003-08-51 applies to

MakesMd Helicopters

Models369A, 369D, 369E, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369F, 369FF, 369

Part-conditional — 369D21640-501, 369D21641-501, 369D21642-501, 369D21643-501, 500P3100-101, 500P3100-301, 500P3300-501, 500P3500-701.

Applies only to helicopters with an affected tail rotor blade (one of the listed part numbers) installed.

Whether AD 2003-08-51 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 2003-08-51 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.