Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-12626 · Eurocopter France Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N Helicopters
Eurocopter France Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N Helicopters
Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters, certificated in any category.
This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-26-55, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight and thereafter at specified intervals, visually checking the tail rotor blade (blade) skin for a crack and replacing any cracked blade before further flight. This AD is prompted by the discovery of cracks in the skin of a blade. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the blade, which could result in severe vibration, loss of the tail rotor gearbox (TGB), and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
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.
