Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 47B, 47B-3, 47D, 47D-1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A, 47H-1, 47J, 47J-2, 47J-2A, and 47K Helicopters

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 47B, 47B-3, 47D, 47D-1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G- 3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A, 47H-1, 47J, 47J-2, 47J- 2A, and 47K helicopters, that requires installing a safety washer kit designed to preclude separation of the stabilizer bar damper link (damper link) if the damper link rod end bushing (bushing) loosens and exits the damper link rod end. This amendment is prompted by two reported incidents in which the bushings loosened and exited the damper link rod ends, allowing the damper link to slide over the retention bolt and separate from the stabilizer bar (in the first incident), and from the hydraulic damper (in the second incident). The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the damper link assembly, which can result in degraded control response and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.