# AD 70-09-03: Tail Gear Box Pitch Beams

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Sikorsky S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, S-61R and S-61V
- Effective: May 8, 1970
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Rotorcraft
- Amendment: 39-980
- Registered aircraft: 54 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/0BC3D637CA66306586256A55006DB876.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-09-03

## The airworthiness directive

70-09-03 SIKORSKY: Amdt. 39-980. Applies to S-61 Type Helicopters.

To prevent failure of P/N S6135-66649 and S6137-66704 series tail gear box pitch beams accomplish the following:

  (a) Within the next 10 days or 25 hours in service, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 90 days or 240 hours in service, whichever occurs first, from the last inspection perform the inspections of the bore area of the pitch beam in accordance with Sikorsky Service Bulletin No. 61B35-7 dated 12 February 1970 or later revisions or an equivalent method approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA Eastern Region. If a crack is found, remove the pitch beam from service prior to further flight.

This amendment is effective May 8, 1970.

## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS 1H15](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1H15): Sikorsky Aircraft; names 4 of 4 models: S-61R, S-61N, S-61L, S-61NM
- [TCDS H2EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/H2EA): Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation; names 4 of 4 models: S-61A, S-61D, S-61V, S-61E

## 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: 54 (54 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Sikorsky 53, Carson Helicopters / Sikorsky 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Sikorsky S-61N](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-61n): 45 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Sikorsky S-61A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-61a): 5 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Sikorsky S-61L](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-61l): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Sikorsky S-61NM](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-61nm): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Sikorsky S-61R](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-61r): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Carson Helicopters / Sikorsky S61A](https://openairdocs.org/model/carson-helicopters-sikorsky-s61a): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 6 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-09-03/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-09-03/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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