Emergency Airworthiness Directive Issued for Certain Bell 505 Helicopters by FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive for certain Bell 505 helicopters. This follows the discovery of a critical safety flaw that could potentially lead to a total loss of control.
The directive, known as AD 2026-05-51, applies specifically to Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. These are the ones with serial numbers 65011 and above, equipped with certain aft movable ballast box assemblies.
The FAA’s investigation revealed that plastic deformation and improper pin engagement in the hinge assembly could allow ballast weights to escape. This could result in these weights striking the tail rotor assembly during flight, posing a significant safety risk.
As a response to this discovery, the emergency AD mandates operators to immediately revise the Limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual. This is to prohibit the use of ballast weights within the aft movable ballast box assembly. The directive came into effect on April 16, 2026, for operators who did not receive the original emergency notice issued on March 6, 2026.
It’s worth noting that Transport Canada was the first to address this safety issue. They issued Emergency AD CF-2026-12 on March 3, 2026. This prompted a coordinated action between North American aviation authorities to protect helicopter operators worldwide.
Source: Federal Register