AD Issued for R44 Driveshaft Yoke - National Agricultural Aviation Association

The FAA has adopted a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) for all Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of a fractured clutch shaft forward yoke (yoke) on the main rotor (M/R) drive due to fatigue cracking.

This AD requires, within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), visual inspections of a certain part-numbered flex plate, yoke and flex plate bolts, and depending on the inspection results, replacing affected part(s). In addition, it requires replacing a certain part-numbered yoke after accumulating 2,200 hours TIS (except for R44 S/N 30001 and subsequent, 2,400 hours TIS), or within 12 years since first installation, or as an alternative to removing the part from service, performing a 10x or higher power magnification visual inspection and magnetic particle inspection to check for any crack, seam, lap, shut or any flaw which would require replacement of the yoke.

View AD 2024-19-11 for more specific requirements.

This AD is effective October 31, 2024.