Is AD 2020-17779 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

Yes — AD 2020-17779 requires a repetitive inspection every 50 hours or 12 months. Next-due depends on the aircraft's time in service.

Which aircraft does AD 2020-17779 apply to?

AD 2020-17779 applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited — models 429. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 2020-17779

recurring

AD 2020-17779 · 2020-08-17 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

What this AD requires

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-02-06 for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. AD 2016-02-06 required inspecting certain tail rotor (T/R) pitch link bearing bores for corrosion and pitting. AD 2016-02-06 also required a repetitive inspection of the sealant and repeating the inspections for corrosion and pitting if any sealant is missing. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2016-02-06, expands the applicability, and adds a repetitive inspection. This AD was prompted by an FAA determination that additional part-numbered T/R pitch link assemblies (links) are affected by the same unsafe condition and that an additional repetitive inspection is necessary to address the unsafe condition. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

Repetitive inspection. Re-inspect every 50 hours or 12 months. The next-due date/hours depend on this aircraft’s time in service — a records report computes it from the logbooks.

Which aircraft AD 2020-17779 applies to

MakesBell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited

Models429

Part-conditional — 429-012-112-101, 429-012-112-101FM, 429-012-112-103, 429-012-112-103FM, 429-012-112-111, 429-012-112-111FM, 429-012-112-113, 429-012-112-113FM.

Applies only to helicopters with a tail rotor (T/R) pitch link assembly P/N 429-012-112-101, -101FM, -103, -103FM, -111, -111FM, -113, or -113FM installed. This AD replaces AD 2016-02-06.

Whether AD 2020-17779 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.

Supersession

Supersedes AD 2016-02-06.

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 2020-17779 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.