Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company and Hughes Helicopters, Inc. Model 369, 369A (OH-6A), 369D, E, F, FF, H, HE, HS, and HM Series Helicopters

Abstract

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company and Hughes Helicopters, Inc. Model 369, 369A (OH-6A), 369D, E, F, FF, H, HE, HS, and HM series helicopters, that requires daily preflight checks and 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) inspections for tail rotor blade abrasion strip (abrasion strip) debonding until abrasion strip rivets (rivets) are installed. This amendment also supersedes a Priority Letter AD that currently requires installation of rivets, corrects tail rotor blade part numbers listed in the previous AD, and retains the daily preflight checks of the previous AD until rivets are installed to secure the abrasion strip. This AD provides a terminating action for the abrasion strip debonding and also seeks to clear up any confusion among operators caused by having a published AD and a Priority Letter that are applicable to the same helicopter part. This AD replaces both of those documents. This amendment is prompted by an accident resulting from the separation of an abrasion strip from a tail rotor blade and subsequent tail rotor separation. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the abrasion strip, separation of the tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.