Airworthiness Directive 96-18-05
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, A Division of Textron Canada Ltd. Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 Helicopters
What this AD requires
This amendment supersedes an existing priority letter airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, A Division of Textron Canada Ltd. (BHTC) Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 helicopters, that currently requires a visual inspection of the tailboom skin in the areas around the nutplates and in the areas of the tailboom drive shaft cover retention clips for cracks and corrosion using a 10-power or higher magnifying glass. This amendment requires the same actions as the existing AD, but corrects a part number that was incorrectly stated in that AD. This amendment is prompted by a recent accident and several reports of fatigue cracks in the tailboom skin in the areas around the nutplates for the tail rotor fairing and in the areas of the tail rotor drive shaft cover retention clips. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the tailboom and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 96-18-05 applies to
Before further flight and thereafter every 50 hrs TIS, inspect tailboom for cracks/corrosion using 10x magnifying glass; replace with airworthy tailboom if beyond limits. Replacement with tailboom P/N 206-033-004-143 or -177 is terminating action. Per Bell Helicopter Textron Alert SB 206L-87-47 Rev C (model inferred from SB number).
Whether AD 96-18-05 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.