Safety
Cracked Bell 505 Collectives Draw Second Emergency AD
Transport Canada is now mandating fluorescent penetrant inspections on Bell 505 collective sticks every 25 hours.

Transport Canada (TC) issued its second emergency airworthiness directive (AD) in one week regarding cracked collective control sticks on Bell 505 turbine helicopters. While the first AD called for mandatory, one-time inspections followed by fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) if a crack is found, this one mandates FPI every 25 hours and further directs that helicopters being ferried for inspections only be flown from the copilot’s (left) seat.