Airworthiness Directive 2004-24-08
recurringAirworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206A, B, L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 Helicopters
What this AD requires
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) model helicopters. This action requires an initial inspection and, at specified intervals, certain repetitive checks and inspections of the tail rotor blade (blade) for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed tail rotor weight (weight). Also, this action requires, before further flight, replacing each blade with an airworthy blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight is found. This amendment is prompted by three reports of skin cracks originating near the blade trailing edge balance weight. This condition, if not detected, could result in blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 2004-24-08 applies to
Applicability is defined by an extensive table matching tail rotor blade serial number ranges (S/N prefix 'CS', no 'V' suffix) to blade part numbers 206-016-201-131 (Models 206A, B, L, L-1, L-3, L-4) and 206-016-201-133 (Models 206A and B) -- not reproduced here due to length/complexity; consult the original AD text for the complete serial number matrix.
Whether AD 2004-24-08 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:
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.