Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-06369
FAA Airworthiness Directive for Bell Model 505 Helicopters – Ballast Box Assembly Safety Compliance
Buyer
Federal Aviation Administration
Posted
April 01, 2026
Respond By
May 19, 2026
Identifier
2026-06369
This summary covers a new airworthiness directive (AD) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters:
- Government Buyer
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation
- OEMs and Vendors
- Bell Textron Canada Limited (OEM)
- Products/Services and Technical Details
- Applies to Bell Model 505 helicopters, serial numbers 65011 and subsequent
- Affected part numbers: SLS706201207 and SLS706201207FM (aft movable ballast box assembly)
- No procurement of products or services; this is a regulatory safety action
- Unique or Notable Requirements
- Owners/operators must revise the Limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) to prohibit use of ballast weights in the aft movable ballast box assembly
- Compliance must be recorded in maintenance records
- Special flight permits are not allowed under this directive
- Estimated compliance cost is $85 per helicopter for the manual revision
- Purpose and Rationale
- Prompted by hinge assembly failures that could allow ballast weights to escape and strike the tail rotor, risking loss of control
- The AD is an interim action; further rulemaking may follow
- Locations
- FAA Aviation Safety Engineer Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590
Description
The FAA is issuing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters due to a failure of the hinge assembly on the aft movable ballast box assembly. This failure could allow ballast weights to escape and strike the tail rotor assembly, posing a safety risk. The AD requires revising the Limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual to prohibit the use of ballast weights within the aft movable ballast box assembly. This action aims to prevent damage to the tail rotor, loss of thrust, severe vibrations, and potential loss of control of the helicopter.