AD 2026-15-06: Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

What the FAA requires

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.

Read the full directive on the Federal Register →

Applicability

This AD applies to Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters, certificated in any category, as identified in Transport Canada AD CF-2025-32, dated July 2, 2025 (Transport Canada AD CF-2025-32). (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 5530, Vertical stabilizer structure. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by multiple occurrences of the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly being found cracked, with some cases including the departure of the navigation/very high frequency omni-directional range/glide slope antenna and tuning weight from the helicopter during flight. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking in the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly.

Part numbers this directive names (3)

Extracted from the directive text. For each: the NSN cross-reference where one exists, sellers listing it here, and open DLA solicitations on the NSN.