Well, the tailrotor on the 350 have pretty much been the same on all other models up to the last one, which have the ''chinese weights'' added for the removal of the t/r load compensator.
When they suddenly get these problems with the laminated half bearings, it would be interessting if it is the same part-number as on all other tail rotors. If it is, I recon the problem is generated by the change in design ie. the ''chinese weights'', or we should see the same problems occuring with the rest of the B3 fleet as well. Unless they can identify a production-irregularity on over a certain batch-number.