Airworthiness Directive 97-18-11
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 204B, 205A, and 205A-1 Helicopters
What this AD requires
This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-18-11, issued on August 29, 1997, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Bell Model 204B, 205A, and 205A-1 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires modification and inspections of the vertical fin spar. If any crack is discovered, replacement of the vertical fin spar with an airworthy vertical fin spar is required before further flight. This amendment is prompted by several failures of the vertical fin spar, including those with steel doublers, caused by fatigue cracks that result from a large number of high-power events. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent in-flight failure of the vertical fin spar and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 97-18-11 applies to
Applies only when tailboom vertical fin spar P/N 205-032-899, 205-030-846, or 205-032-851 (any dash number) is installed.
Whether AD 97-18-11 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.