Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Comments close
- Oct 26, 2026
- Citation
- 91 FR 57516
- Docket
- Docket No. FAA-2026-8798, Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01771-R
- Agencies
- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a new safety rule for certain Bell Textron Canada Model 505 helicopters. Because some tail‑cone assemblies were found to have left the factory with defects, the rule would require owners to replace any tail‑cone that has been in service beyond a specific time limit. It also calls for a visual check for gaps, and repeated inspections for loose, damaged, or missing fasteners. If those inspections reveal problems, additional checks and corrective work must be performed to ensure the helicopter’s tail structure remains safe. The rule is issued by the FAA, the transportation‑safety agency that oversees U.S. civil aviation. It applies to operators, maintenance facilities, and owners of the affected Model 505 helicopters—both in the United States and any foreign operators who use the aircraft in U.S. airspace. The proposal was published on September 10, 2026, and comments must be submitted by October 26, 2026. After the comment period closes, the FAA will review the feedback, possibly adjust the requirements, and then issue a final airworthiness directive. Once finalized, the required inspections, replacements, and any follow‑up actions must be completed within the timeframes the FAA sets.
AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.
Official abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a quality escape affecting certain tailcone assemblies. This proposed AD would require replacing any tailcone assembly that has exceeded a certain life limit. Also, this proposed AD would require inspecting the tailcone assembly for gaps, and repetitively inspecting the tailcone assembly for loose, damaged, or missing fasteners. Depending on the results of these inspections, this proposed AD would require conducting further inspections and corrective actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
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