AD 56-09-01

final rule

Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters

AD Number
56-09-01
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.
Technical illustration of a helicopter rotor hub assembly
Problem area Rotor system

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft Hiller Aviation UH-12 Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters
aircraft Hiller Aviation UH-12A Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters
aircraft Hiller Aviation UH-12B Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters
aircraft Hiller Aviation UH-12C Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters

Unsafe Condition

Failures of tail rotor tension-torsion (T-T) bars, P/N 55003, have occurred in the threaded portion adjacent to the Rosan inserts in the yoke. These failures caused loss of the tail rotor and directional control of the helicopter, resulting from excessive stresses due to adverse machining/assembly tolerances and unfavorable T-T bar orientation within the blade assembly. Excessive oilite bushing wear may also cause high stresses.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Disassemble the tail rotor blade to check diametral clearance between yoke and bushings; replace bushings if clearance exceeds 0.005 inch to achieve 0.001-0.003 inch. Measure T-T bar run-out at yoke and blade root per Hiller SB No. 53. Verify T-T bar major axis is 90±15 degrees to blade chord. Replace T-T bars if orientation or run-out exceeds tolerances. Repeat diametral clearance checks every 150 hours and replace T-T bars every 600 hours. Mutilate replaced bars to prevent reuse.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

before the 100-hour replacement time of the T-T bars specified in telegraphic AD dated 11-1-55 has been accumulated

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

Hiller Aviation UH-12, UH-12A, UH-12B, UH-12C helicopters

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Federal Register Abstract

Tail Rotor Torsion Bar

Applicability Source Text

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AD Number:
56-09-01
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters
Subject:
Tail Rotor Torsion Bar
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
Hiller Aviation
Model:
UH-12 | UH-12A | UH-12B | UH-12C
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
Updated RGL applicability to match AD applicability; CAR C-11-185
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 56-09-01
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   56-09-01

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
56-09-01 HILLER: Applies to All UH-12 Series Helicopters.

Compliance required as indicated.

Failures of tail rotor tension-torsion (T-T) bars, P/N 55003, have occurred in the threaded portion of the bars adjacent to the Rosan inserts in the yoke. These failures caused loss of the tail rotor and directional control of the helicopter. The failures were caused by excessive stresses in the T-T bars which resulted from adverse accumulation of machining and assembly tolerances and from unfavorable orientation of the T-T bar within the blade assembly. Excessive wear of the oilite bushings in the tail rotor blade root fitting may also cause high stresses in the bars.

1. To prevent recurrences of these T-T bar failures the following actions are required before the 100-hour replacement time of the T-T bars specified in telegraphic AD dated 11-1-55 has been accumulated.

(a) Disassemble the tail rotor blade sufficiently to determine the diametral clearance between the outside diameter of the tail rotor yoke and the inside diameter of the oilite bushings within the blade root fitting. If the differences in diameters exceed 0.005 inch, replace the bushings as necessary to obtain diametral clearances of 0.001 inch to 0.003 inch.

(b) Determine the run-out of the T-T bar at the Rosan insert in the yoke and at the end block in the blade root fitting. Methods of measuring the run-out are covered in Hiller Service Bulletin No. 53.

(c) Determine the orientation of the axes of the T-T bar as originally assembled. The major axis of the T-T bar elliptical section must be 90 degrees plus or minus 15 degrees to the blade chord.

(d) If the major axis of the T-T bar elliptical section is found to be within 15 degrees of the perpendicular to the blade chord upon initial inspection and if the run-out is not greater than tolerances specified in Hiller Service Bulletin No. 53, the T-T bar may be continued in further use as provided in item 3. If one or both of the above conditions are not satisfied at the initial inspection, the T-T bar shall be replaced with a new bar at the time of this inspection.

2. Repeat the inspection for diametral clearance specified in item 1(a) at not to exceed every 150 hours of operation.

3. Replace the T-T bars at not to exceed every 600 hours of operation regardless of the conditions found in the 150-hour inspection periods.

4. Replaced T-T bars shall be mutilated to preclude further use in this application.

This supersedes AD 53-02-02 and telegraphic AD dated November 1, 1955.

FOOTER:

Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_56-09-01.html
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Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
56-09-01
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters
Subject:
Tail Rotor Torsion Bar
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
Hiller Aviation
Model:
UH-12 | UH-12A | UH-12B | UH-12C
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
Updated RGL applicability to match AD applicability; CAR C-11-185
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 56-09-01
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   56-09-01

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Hiller Model UH-12 Series Helicopters

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
56-09-01 HILLER: Applies to All UH-12 Series Helicopters.

Compliance required as indicated.

Failures of tail rotor tension-torsion (T-T) bars, P/N 55003, have occurred in the threaded portion of the bars adjacent to the Rosan inserts in the yoke. These failures caused loss of the tail rotor and directional control of the helicopter. The failures were caused by excessive stresses in the T-T bars which resulted from adverse accumulation of machining and assembly tolerances and from unfavorable orientation of the T-T bar within the blade assembly. Excessive wear of the oilite bushings in the tail rotor blade root fitting may also cause high stresses in the bars.

1. To prevent recurrences of these T-T bar failures the following actions are required before the 100-hour replacement time of the T-T bars specified in telegraphic AD dated 11-1-55 has been accumulated.

(a) Disassemble the tail rotor blade sufficiently to determine the diametral clearance between the outside diameter of the tail rotor yoke and the inside diameter of the oilite bushings within the blade root fitting. If the differences in diameters exceed 0.005 inch, replace the bushings as necessary to obtain diametral clearances of 0.001 inch to 0.003 inch.

(b) Determine the run-out of the T-T bar at the Rosan insert in the yoke and at the end block in the blade root fitting. Methods of measuring the run-out are covered in Hiller Service Bulletin No. 53.

(c) Determine the orientation of the axes of the T-T bar as originally assembled. The major axis of the T-T bar elliptical section must be 90 degrees plus or minus 15 degrees to the blade chord.

(d) If the major axis of the T-T bar elliptical section is found to be within 15 degrees of the perpendicular to the blade chord upon initial inspection and if the run-out is not greater than tolerances specified in Hiller Service Bulletin No. 53, the T-T bar may be continued in further use as provided in item 3. If one or both of the above conditions are not satisfied at the initial inspection, the T-T bar shall be replaced with a new bar at the time of this inspection.

2. Repeat the inspection for diametral clearance specified in item 1(a) at not to exceed every 150 hours of operation.

3. Replace the T-T bars at not to exceed every 600 hours of operation regardless of the conditions found in the 150-hour inspection periods.

4. Replaced T-T bars shall be mutilated to preclude further use in this application.

This supersedes AD 53-02-02 and telegraphic AD dated November 1, 1955.

FOOTER:

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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