Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
Key claim: Operators of certain Bell 505 helicopters must check the tail-cone assembly part number and, if the identification plate is wrong, replace it and update the aircraft log so the correct life limit is recorded.
Abstract
(Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports that the identification plate affixed to certain tail cone assemblies contains an incorrect part number (P/N), which may not accurately convey the life limit. This AD requires verifying the tail cone assembly part number and, if necessary, replacing the incorrect tail cone assembly identification plate with a new tail cone assembly identification plate containing the correct P/N and updating the existing log book or equivalent record for the helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
Mislabeled life-limited parts can cause operators to fly components past their safe retirement age without knowing it, so even a paperwork-level AD like this one is a direct airworthiness safeguard. The directive illustrates how the FAA uses ADs not only for physical defects but also to correct identification and recordkeeping errors that would otherwise defeat the life-limit tracking system.