AD 75-26-03

75-26-03 BELL: Amendment 39-2451. Applies to Bell Models 204B, 205A-1, and 212 helicopters certificated in all categories.

Compliance required within 100 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD unless already accomplished and, thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 300 hours' time in service from the last inspection.

To deter unauthorized access to the emergency exit operating handle and to improve identification of the emergency exit handle and the main sliding door handle, accomplish the following:

(a) Inspect the helicopter main passenger doors and the four emergency exits for proper and legible placards and for proper exit handle covers, both inside and outside the helicopter, in accordance with the figures in Bell Helicopter Company Service Bulletins noted in paragraph (c).

(b) If proper and legible placards and proper exit handle covers are not installed, install the placards and handle covers as specified in Bell Helicopter Company Service Bulletins noted in paragraph (c).

(c) The following Bell Helicopter Company service bulletins, or later approved revisions thereto, apply to the noted helicopter models.

(1) Bell Helicopter Company Service Bulletin No. 204-75-2 dated September 16, 1975, for Model 204B.

(2) Bell Helicopter Company Service Bulletin No. 205-75-6, Revision A, dated August 22, 1975, for Model 205A-1.

(3) Bell Helicopter Company Service Bulletin No. 212-75-7, Revision A, dated August 22, 1975, for Model 212.

(d) Equivalent means of compliance with this AD may be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Flight Standards Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, Fort Worth, Texas.

(e) Upon request of the operator, an FAA maintenance inspector, subject to prior approval of the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Flight Standards Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, may adjust the repetitive inspection intervals specified in this AD to permit compliance at an established inspection period of the operator if the request contains substantiating data to justify the increase for that operator.

(f) The manufacturer's specifications and procedures identified and described in this directive are incorporated herein and made a part hereof pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1). All persons affected by this directive who have not already received these documents from the manufacturer may obtain copies upon request to Service Manager, Bell Helicopter Company, P. O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101. These documents may also be examined at the Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 4400 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, Texas, and at FAA headquarters, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. A historical file on this AD which includes the incorporated material in full is maintained by the FAA at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at the Office ofRegional Counsel, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 4400 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, Texas.

This amendment becomes effective January 19, 1976.