What was found
(CAN) WHILE PERFORMING AN AW CHECK, CRACKS WERE SUSPECTED IN AFT CROSS TUBE SUPPORT AREA. AFTER PAINT STRIPPING CRACKS CONFIRMED AS FOLLOWS. A SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK WAS FOUND ON THE FWD LEG OF THE LT CROSS TUBE SUPPORT. CRACK IS JUST OUTBOARD OF 90 DEGREE ANGLE. CRACK STARTS AT BOTTOM OF SUPPORT & EXTENDS VERTICAL TO FIRST RIVET & THEN VEERS INBOARD & VERTICAL. CRACK IS APPROX. 1 INCH IN LENGTH. A SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK ALSO FOUND JUST BELOW FWD LEG OF THE RT CROSS TUBE SUPPORT. CRACK IS JUST BELOW THIS LEG & RUNS HORIZONTAL & IS ABOUT 1/2 INCH LONG. BELL HELICOPTER IS AWARE OF CRACKS IN THIS AREA & HAS MADE AN UPGRADE TO THESE PARTS. NEW PARTS ARE OF A MUCH THICKER MATERIAL TO PREVENT CRACKING.