TITLE 14 - AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 

CHAPTER I - FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

(Airworthiness Docket No. 75-SW-64, Amdt. 39-245 7) 

PART 39 - AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 

BELL MODELS 204B,205A-~ AND 212 HELICOPTERS 

A proposal to amend Part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to 

include an airworthiness directive imposing a periodic inspection, 

sealing, and refinishing of main rotor blades to prevent possible cracks 

d.ue to corrosion on Bell Models 204B, 205A-l, and 212 helicopters was 

published in L~O F.R. 46320. 

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 

j_n the making of this amendment. Only one conunent was received. An 

operator stated that stripping and painting would be difficult and 

unwarranted for certain operators and might result in additional damage 

to the blade. Bell Helicopter Company revised their service bulletins 

to require partial stripping and refinishing only if repair or rework is 

accomplished. The FAA. agrees with this change to relax the initial 

requirements and the adopted rule requires compliance with the revised 

service bulletins. 

In consideration of the foregoing, and pursuant to the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator (31 F.R. 13697), Section 39.13 of 

Part 39 of the Feder.al Aviation Regulations is amended by adding the 

following new airworthiness directive: 

BELL. Applies to Bell Models 204B, 205A-l, and 212 helicopters 

certificated in all categories. 
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(a) Compliance required as follows: 

(1) For main rotor blades having 12 or more 1ronths • installed 

time on a helicopter, on the effective date of this AD, conduct inspections 

within 90 days' time unless already accomplished. 

(2) For main rotor blades having less than 12 months 1 installed 

time on a helicopter on the effective date of this AD, conduct inspections 

prior to attaining 15 months' installed time on a helicopter. 

(3) Conduct repetitive inspections at intervals not to exceed 

12 months' installed time from the last inspection. 

(b) To detect possible cracks and corrosion and to prevent further 

corrosion in the main rotor blade inboard portion, accomplish the 

following: 

(1) Remove the main rotor blades from the helicopter and prepare 

the blades for inspection as noted in Bell Helicopter Company Service 

Bulletin No . 205-75-5, revision A, dated October 22, 1975, or later approved 

revisions, Part III, paragraph A. 

(2) Inspect the blades as noted in Service Bulletin No. 205-75-5, 

revision A, or later approved revisions, Part III, paragraph A. Blades 

with cracks or adhesive voids exceeding the limits specified in Service 

Bulletin No. 205- 75-5, revision A, Part III, paragraph A, may not be 

returned to service. 

(3) Repair discrepant blades as specified in Service Bulletin 

No. 205-75-5, revision A, or later approved revisions, Part III , paragraph 

A, Refinish discrepant blades as specified :i.n Part III, paragraph B, 
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(4) Install blades on the helicopter in accordance with the 

applicable model maintenance and overhaul information manual and balance 

and track the blades. 

(c) Equivalent means of compliance with paragraph (b) of this AD 

may be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, 

Flight Standards Division, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, Texas. Bell Service Bulletins No. 20l1-75-1, 

revision A, dated October 22, 1975, No. 212-75-6, revision A, dated 

October 22, 1975, or later FAA-DER approved revisions to these bulletins 

are approved as equivalent means of compliance with paragraph (b). 

(d) Upon request of the operator, an FAA maintenance inspector, 

subject to prior approval of the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing 

Branch, Flight Standards Division, FAA, Southwest. Region, may adjust the 

repetitive inspection intervals specified in this AD to permit compliance 

at an established inspection period of the operator if the request contains 

substantiating data to justify the increase for that operator. 

(e) The manufacturer I s specifications and procedures identified and 

described in this directive are incorporated herein and made a part hereof 

pursuant to 5 u.s.c. 552(a)(l). All persons affected by this directive 

who have not already received these documents from the manufacturer may 

obtain copies upon request to Service Manager, Bell Helicopter Company, 

P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101. These documents may also be 

examined at the Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, FAA, 

4400 nlue Mound Road, Fort Worth, Texas, and at FAA headquarters, 
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800 Independence Avenue, s.w. , Washington, D.c. A historical file on 

this AD which includes the incorporated material in full is maintained 

by the FM at its headquarters in Washington, O.C , , and at the Office 

of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, FM, 4L~oo Blue Mound Road, 

Fort worth, Texas. 

This amendment becomes effective January 19, 1976. 

This amendment is made under the authority of Sections 313(a), 601, 

and 603 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (L1.9 u.s.c. 1354(a) , 1421, 

and 1L~23) and of Section 6 (c) of the Department of Transportation Act 

(49 u.s.c. 1655(c)). 

I k~. ~" l~/.J r>- ~- ~vv~/\-:. ~,., l'"°( c;:._ 

Dir~ Southwest Region 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas , on December 3, 1975 . 

The incorporation by reference provisions i n this document were approved 

by t he Director of the Federal Register on June 19, 1967.