{"id":"F2008L01656","name":"AD/BELL 222/31 Amdt 2 - Tail Rotor Blade","slug":"ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":73743,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L01656-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 22","sectionType":"division","heading":"Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters","content":"### Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 222 Series Helicopters\n\n| AD/BELL 222/31 Amdt 2 | Tail Rotor Blade | 7/2008 DM |\n| --------------------- | ---------------- | --------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Models 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Inspect the tail rotor blades in accordance with Part I of Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 222U-04-71 Revision A, or ASB 222-04-100 Revision A, or ASB 230-04-31 Revision A, as applicable; or later Transport Canada approved revision.2. Inspect the tail rotor blades in accordance with Part II of ASB 222U-04-71 Revision A, or ASB 222-04-100 Revision A, or ASB 230-04-31 Revision A, as applicable; or later Transport Canada approved revision.3. Rework the affected tail rotor blades in accordance with Part III of ASB222U-04-71 Revision A, or ASB 222-04-100 Revision A, or ASB 230-04-31 Revision A, as applicable; or later Transport Canada approved revision.Note 1: Reworking the tail rotor blades in accordance with Requirement 3 eliminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this Directive.Note 2: Transport Canada AD CF-2004-21 R3 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Unless the initial inspection is already accomplished, within 3 flight hours after1 June 2008, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3 flight hours; until compliance with Requirement 3.2. Unless the initial inspection is already accomplished, within 50 flight hours after 1 June 2008, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 flight hours; until compliance with Requirement 3.3. Before 31 December 2008, unless already accomplished.This Directive shall be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The Requirement 1 inspection may be performed and certified by the Pilot in Command who has been trained to do the inspection by an appropriately qualified person. In this case, a copy of the Requirement document and this Directive is to be carried on the aircraft.                                                                               |\n\n|             | This Amendment becomes effective on 1 June 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |\n| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Background: | Reports were received of three occurrences of cracked tail rotor blades which were discovered during scheduled inspection. Two cracks initiated from the outboard bearing bore underneath the flanged sleeves. The third crack initiated from the inboard bearing bore. Corrosion and machining burrs are suspected as the crack initiators.Amendment 1 introduced terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements.Amendment 2 is issued in response to a revision of the related Transport Canada AD, which extends terminating action until 31 December 2008. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n19 May 2008","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/BELL 222/31 Amdt 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/BELL 222/31 Amdt 2","content":"## AD/BELL 222/31 Amdt 2","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Tail Rotor Blade","sectionType":"part","heading":"Tail Rotor Blade","content":"## Tail Rotor Blade","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"7/2008 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"7/2008 DM","content":"## 7/2008 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 2 does not add new inspection types or technical requirements but extends the window for the terminating rework: it aligns the AD with a revised Transport Canada AD by permitting the terminating action to be completed by 31 December 2008 (previous amendments had introduced the terminating action). Otherwise applicability and inspection requirements remain unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple related technical documents (three model-specific Bell Alert Service Bulletins, Part I/II/III) referenced as mandatory or later Transport Canada–approved revisions","Two distinct inspection regimes with different intervals (3 flight hours and 50 flight hours) that operate concurrently until terminating action","Terminating action (Part III rework) that removes repetitive inspections — operators must schedule and resource that rework before a fixed deadline","Provision allowing a trained Pilot in Command to perform and certify one inspection, creating an atypical compliance pathway and record-keeping requirement (carry copy of Directive and Requirement document on board)","Cross-reference to Transport Canada AD CF-2004-21 R3 and amendment-driven deadline changes (coordination across regulators and revisions)","Mandatory entry on the Maintenance Release and specific effective/compliance dates impose administrative and operational burdens on operators"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of Bell 222, 222B, 222U and 230 helicopters to carry out frequent inspections of tail rotor blades, complete a specified rework that removes the need for repeated inspections, and record the work on the aircraft maintenance release. It prescribes short inspection intervals (as little as 3 flight hours) pending the terminating rework, permits a trained pilot to perform one inspection, and follows a related Transport Canada AD; Amendment 2 extends the deadline for terminating rework to 31 December 2008."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in specific helicopter models. Amendment 2 merely extends a compliance deadline (terminating action) from the original Amendment 1; it does not expand the scope beyond the original safety purpose of preventing tail rotor blade failures."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping applicability conditions (three different service bulletins for different helicopter models)","Tiered compliance schedule with three different deadlines and intervals (3 hours, 50 hours, and calendar date)","Conditional logic: 'unless already accomplished' appears multiple times","Cross-reference to external documents (Transport Canada AD CF-2004-21 R3 and Bell service bulletins)","Exception allowing pilot-performed inspections under specific training conditions","Terminating action mechanism (Requirement 3 cancels Requirements 1 and 2)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates repeated inspections and eventual rework of tail rotor blades on Bell 222/222B/222U and 230 helicopters after cracks were found (likely from corrosion/machining burrs). Operators must perform frequent visual and detailed checks until a permanent repair is done; trained pilots may do the short-interval visual check. The measure prevents catastrophic tail‑rotor failure, and Amendment 2 extends the deadline for completing the permanent fix."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade","history":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bell-222-31-amdt-2-tail-rotor-blade/documents"}}