Airworthiness DirectiveSupersededEASA AD 2022-0036

Fuselage – Tailboom Attachment – Inspection / Replacement

Superseded. A newer version replaces this document.

Published: Mar 7, 2022
Effective: Mar 14, 2022
Deadline: Mar 14, 2022

AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.

What to do

Operators of Bell 212 and 412 helicopters must replace the upper left-hand affected bolt with a serviceable bolt and inspect other affected bolts for corrosion within 25 flight hours or 3 months from 2022-03-14. All affected barrel nuts must be replaced with serviceable nickel alloy nuts. Torque checks of the four affected bolts must be performed within 5 flight hours after bolt replacement or tailboom installation, with corrective actions taken if torque discrepancies are found.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0036 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Bell Textron Inc. 212 and 412 helicopter models. It addresses the inspection and replacement of tailboom attachment bolts and barrel nuts to prevent potential failure due to cracking, corrosion, fatigue, and low torque. The directive mandates specific inspections, replacements, and torque checks to ensure continued airworthiness.

What changed

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0036 introduces a one-time inspection and/or replacement of affected tailboom attachment bolts and barrel nuts, along with recurrent torque checks and corrective actions. It requires replacing certain steel alloy barrel nuts with nickel alloy versions and replacing upper left-hand bolts with serviceable bolts within a defined timeframe. This AD is a new regulation addressing recent reports of component failures and does not supersede any previous AD.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a safety risk that could lead to tailboom attachment failure and potential loss of helicopter control. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to avoid in-flight failures caused by cracked or fatigued bolts and barrel nuts. Compliance ensures the structural integrity of affected Bell 212 and 412 helicopters, maintaining safe operation and regulatory adherence.

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