# AD 59-05-01: Tail Rotor Blade Inspection - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Scotts-Bell 47 47, 47B, 47B3, 47D, 47D1, 47E, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B and 12 more - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Rotorcraft - Registered aircraft: 490 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/796A7B5BAB57ECC586256A4D004F8069.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/59-05-01 ## The airworthiness directive 59-05-01 BELL: Applies to All Model 47 Helicopters Having Metal Tail Rotor Blades, P/N's 47-642-102-1; -5; -7; -9; -17; and -19 Installed. Compliance required as indicated. As a result of several cracks having occurred (in most instances following known damage due to the tail rotor striking water, tall grass, or underbrush) the following inspection of the metal tail rotor blades, to preclude loss of tail rotor control, must be accomplished as indicated: (1) On trailing edge of blade, remove paint in the area of Numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 rivets to the bare metal, with a suitable lacquer thinner only. Feather edges of remaining paint with thinner. DO NOT use sandpaper, steel-wool, or other sharp objects to remove paint. DO NOT use a paint stripper. NOTE: The removal of paint does not affect the balance. (2) Visually inspect for chordwise cracks along the trailing edge of blade, in the area of rivets Numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 counting from the butt end towards tip end.It is mandatory that the tail rotor blades be replaced if any cracks are found. (3) If no cracks are found, it is mandatory that the bare metal portion of blades be left unpainted to facilitate daily inspection. To protect the bare metal, a thin coat of clear lacquer, cosmolene, or grease shall be applied to the area. (4) Tail rotor blades, installed on float equipped helicopters or which have had any service time on float equipped helicopters, shall be inspected prior to each flight. (5) Tail rotor blades installed on helicopters not operated on floats shall be inspected daily. (Bell Service Bulletin No. 128SB, dated January 27, 1959, covers the same subject.) ## Affected data sheets (3) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS 2H3](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2H3): Scott's-Bell 47 Inc; names 11 of 11 models: 47G-2A, 47G-3B, 47G-3, 47G-4A, 47G-5A, 47G-5, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-3B-2… - [TCDS H-1](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/H-1): Scott's-Bell 47 Inc; names 9 of 9 models: 47H-1, 47B, 47B3, 47D1, 47D, 47G-2, 47G, 47… - [TCDS 2H1](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/2H1): Scott's-Bell 47 Inc; names 4 of 4 models: 47K, 47J-2, 47J-2A, 47J ## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs) Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment. - Aircraft: 490 (490 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Bell 476, Bell-K-Copter 3, Bell Kitz Kopters 1, Bell-Allied Helicopter 1, Bell-Carson 1, Bell-Huddleston And Wilson 1, Bell-Intermountain 1, Bell-Olympic Helicopters 1, Bell-Shippey 1, Bell-Tellijohn 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2): 87 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1): 86 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g): 55 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1): 47 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5): 40 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-3B-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-2): 26 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a): 20 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a): 19 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5a): 19 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-3B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b): 15 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-2A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a-1): 13 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4): 13 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47G3B2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g3b2a): 7 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47H-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47h-1): 6 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47J](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j): 6 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47J-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2): 6 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47J-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2a): 5 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47D](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d): 4 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell-K-Copter 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-k-copter-47g): 2 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bell 47B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47b): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 35 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/59-05-01/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/59-05-01/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.