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Airworthiness Directive 2004-20-08

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Official AD 2004-20-08 · FR doc 04-22264 · 2004-10-06 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 500N and 600N Helicopters

What this AD requires

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 500N and 600N helicopters. This action requires using a bright light and a 10x or higher magnifying glass to inspect each forward and center thruster control cable assembly connector (connector) for corrosion pitting or cracking. If you find corrosion pitting or cracking, this AD also requires replacing the cable assembly with an airworthy cable assembly before further flight. This amendment is prompted by a report of a failure of the forward thruster cable assembly due to stress corrosion. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect a corrosion-pitted or cracked connector and prevent failure of the cable assembly and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Which aircraft AD 2004-20-08 applies to

MakesMd Helicopters
Models500N, 600N
Serial-conditional — narrows to serials LN001–LN099, RN003–RN068.
Part-conditional — 500N7201-55, 500N7201-57, 500N7201-59.

500N helicopters with S/N prefix 'LN' 001 through 099 with forward thruster cable assembly P/N 500N7201-55 and center cable assembly P/N 500N7201-57 installed; 600N helicopters with S/N prefix 'RN' 003 through 068 with forward thruster cable assembly P/N 500N7201-55 and center cable assembly P/N 500N7201-59 installed.

Whether AD 2004-20-08 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 2004-20-08 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.