Airworthiness Directive 98-22-16
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R44 Helicopters
What this AD requires
This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-22-16 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of RHC Model R44 helicopters by individual letters. This amendment supersedes AD 98-12- 19, issued August 5, 1998, applicable to RHC Model R44 helicopters, that currently requires main rotor blade inspections and replacement if a crack is found. This amendment requires the same inspections as AD 98-12-19, but mandates replacement of all the affected main rotor blades prior to further flight after November 15, 1998. This amendment is prompted by an incident in which a crack was discovered in a main rotor blade. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of a main rotor blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 98-22-16 applies to
Whether AD 98-22-16 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.