Summary
This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI)--manufactured restricted category Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH- 1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters. This proposal would require a one-time inspection of the tail rotor slider (slider) to verify that it was manufactured with the correct outside diameter. This proposal is prompted by a United States (U.S.) Army Safety of Flight message that reports that some sliders may have been improperly manufactured with an undersized wall thickness by U.S. Army vendors. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of the slider, which could cause loss of tail rotor control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.