Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, LLC Helicopters
Key claim: More MD Helicopters models must now repeatedly inspect torque-tube assemblies and roller bearings and replace parts if problems are found, expanding an existing 2024 safety order.
Abstract
(Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-23- 06, which applied to certain MD Helicopters, LLC Model 369, 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters. AD 2024-23-06 required repetitively inspecting the torque tube assembly and roller bearings, and depending on the results, replacing parts or accomplishing additional inspections. Since the FAA issued AD 2024-23-06, the FAA has determined that additional torque tube assemblies are affected by this unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions of AD 2024-23-06 and expands the applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
Airworthiness directives are the FAA’s primary tool for forcing fleet-wide fixes once a safety issue is identified, and expansions of existing ADs show how initial inspection mandates get broadened as more affected serial numbers or related components come to light. For MD Helicopters operators, this adds recurring torque-tube and roller-bearing inspections to maintenance schedules, with mandatory replacement when defects are found.