Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-12061 · Agusta S.p.A. Model A109E Helicopters
Agusta S.p.A. Model A109E Helicopters
Model A109E helicopters with tail rotor blade (blade), part number (P/N) 109-8132-01-109, serial number (S/N) A5-0130, A5-0131, A5-0224 through A5-0246, or A5-0249 through A5-0253, installed, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109E helicopters. This action requires replacing certain tail rotor blades with airworthy tail rotor blades. This amendment is prompted by a tail rotor blade (blade) failure that caused a high vibration level in the helicopter. Investigation revealed that the failure was due to a change in the manufacturing process for an identified production lot of blades. This condition, if not corrected, could result in a failure of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
To prevent a blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace each affected blade with an airworthy blade, P/N 109-8132-01-109 or P/N 109-8132-01-107, with an S/N other than those listed in the applicability section of this AD.
Note 2: Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109EP-13, dated August 3, 2000, pertains to the subject of this AD.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
Aircraft
