# 2026-23007: FAA Tells Bell Helicopters to Inspect Tail Gear More Often

2026-23007, Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-11-12, effective 2026-12-17; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23007
- As of: 2026-11-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-23007
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 72770
- Published: 2026-11-12
- Effective: 2026-12-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-11-12

## In one line

FAA Tells Bell Helicopters to Inspect Tail Gear More Often

## Summary

If you fly a Bell Textron Canada Model 429 helicopter, listen up! The FAA is updating safety checks by making inspections of the tail rotor gearbox and tail boom more frequent to keep you safer. Starting December 17, 2026, you’ll need to follow these tighter inspection rules, which might mean a bit more time and money but way more peace of mind.

## Abstract

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-20- 11, which applied to certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters. AD 2022-20-11 required visually inspecting the external surface of the tail rotor (TR) gearbox support assembly, borescope inspecting or visually inspecting the inside of the tail boom, and performing a tactile inspection. Depending on the results of the inspections, AD 2022-20-11 required removing certain rivets from service or repairing gaps in accordance with an approved method. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-20-11, the manufacturer determined the repetitive inspection interval needs to be reduced. This AD requires the same actions as AD 2022-20-11 and reduces the inspection interval. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- More frequent inspections for Bell 429: cost, low. If you operate a Bell Textron Canada Model 429 helicopter identified in Transport Canada AD CF-2025-60R1, you must follow the same inspections required by the prior AD (visual inspection of tail rotor gearbox support rivets, borescope or detailed inspection of the inside of the tail boom, and tacti…
- No mandatory reporting to manufacturer: benefit, low. Although the Transport Canada material referenced requests submission of inspection data to the manufacturer, this FAA AD explicitly does not require operators to report inspection results to the manufacturer for AD compliance.
- Estimated inspection and repair costs for operators: cost, high. The FAA estimates the AD affects 147 U.S.-registered helicopters. Each required inspection is estimated at 1 work-hour = $85 per helicopter (cost per inspection = $85; total for 147 helicopters = $12,495 per inspection). On-condition actions: measuring a gap is 1 work-hour = $85; replacing rivets i…

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## Sources
- [2026-23007 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/12/2026-23007/airworthiness-directives-bell-textron-canada-limited-helicopters)
- [2026-23007 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-12/pdf/2026-23007.pdf)

## Related
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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23007 (as of 2026-11-12).