AD 89-20-13

89-20-13 BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON, INC. (BHTI): Amendment 39-8027. Docket No. 89-ASW-49. Final Rule of priority letter AD.

Applicability: All Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 helicopters, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required before further flight, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure and separation of the horizontal stabilizer from the helicopter, which could result in a strike on the tail rotor, causing loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:

(a) Visually inspect to determine if the horizontal stabilizer installed on the helicopter has the required raised external doubler. The doubler is visible on the top of the stabilizer surface extending approximately 4 inches outward from either side of the tailboom and covering the upper surface of the horizontal stabilizer from within one half inch of the forward leading edge to the trailing edge.

(b) If the horizontal stabilizer installed does nothave the required external doubler, remove and replace the stabilizer with an airworthy part before further flight. The addition of an external doubler to the Helicomb International part will not bring the horizontal stabilizer into conformity with the approved type design and will not provide an equivalent level of safety.

(c) Report the registration number of the affected helicopter and the serial number of the discrepant stabilizer if found. This report is to be made to the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, ASW-170, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 624-5170, within l0 days of the inspection. (Reporting approved by the Office of Management and Budget under OMB No. 2120-0056.)

(d) An alternate method of compliance which provides an equivalent level of safety, may be used if approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 624-5170.

This amendment (39-8027, AD 89-20-13) becomes effective on October 15, 1991, as to all persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately effective by Priority Letter AD 89-20-13, issued October 4, 1989, which contained this amendment.