Summary
This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified restricted category type-certificated helicopters. The AD would require a review of the helicopter records to determine the Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code of the tail rotor (T/R) slider. If the T/R slider is FAA approved or has a certain legible CAGE code, this AD would require no further action. If you cannot determine whether the T/R slider is FAA approved and it has no stamped CAGE code, an illegible stamped CAGE code, or an affected CAGE code, the AD would also require, before further flight and at specified intervals, magnaflux inspecting the T/R slider for a crack. If a crack is found, the AD would require, before further flight, replacing the T/ R slider with an airworthy T/R slider. The AD would also require replacing the T/R slider with an airworthy T/R slider on or before accumulating 1,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) or on or before 12 months, whichever occurs first. This proposal is prompted by two accidents attributed to sub-standard T/R sliders that failed during flight. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a T/R slider, loss of T/R control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.