Bell Helicopters Get Tail Cap Upgrade to Fight Cracks Mid-Flight
Published Date: 7/30/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-02- 55, which applies to certain Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL) Model 505 helicopters. AD 2024-02-55 required initial and recurring inspections of the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly and corrective action if a crack is found. Since the FAA issued AD 2024-02- 55, the manufacturer introduced a new one- piece vertical stabilizer machined top end cap assembly, which is implemented during production, and designed a new replacement for the vertical stabilizer machined top end cap assembly currently in service. This AD continues to require the inspection requirements of AD 2024-02- 55 and would limit the applicability to exclude certain serial numbered BTCL Model 505 helicopters with an improved design vertical stabilizer top end cap installed at production. This AD also requires replacing the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly with an improved design top end cap assembly, which constitutes a terminating action for the recurring detailed visual inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Continued Inspections for Model 505
If you operate certain Bell Textron Canada Model 505 helicopters, you must perform the initial and recurring inspections of the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly and take corrective action if a crack is found, as required by this Airworthiness Directive.
Required Replacement Ends Recurring Checks
The AD requires replacing the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly with an improved-design top end cap assembly; replacing it is a terminating action that ends the recurring detailed visual inspections.
Some Model 505s Excluded From AD
The AD narrows which helicopters are covered by excluding certain serial-numbered Bell Model 505 helicopters that had the improved one-piece vertical stabilizer top end cap installed during production.
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