Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13021 · Eurocopter France Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N Helicopters
Eurocopter France Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N Helicopters
Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters, with sliding door middle rail (middle rail) left upper, part number (P/N) 350A21-1027-36, left lower, P/N 350A21- 1027-20, right upper, P/N 350A21-1027-39, right lower, P/N 350A21- 1027-21, sliding door roller (roller), P/N 350A25-1274-24, and plate support, P/N 350A21-1335-20, installed, certificated in any category.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters. This action requires measuring the diameter of the sliding door roller (roller) and the dimensions of the front end opening of the sliding door middle rail (rail) to determine if excessive wear exists, and if necessary, installing a placard prohibiting the operation of the sliding door during flight. This amendment is prompted by an incident in which a roller came out of the middle rail during a door-opening operation in flight. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent the roller from coming out of the middle rail when opening the door, which could lead to the sliding door separating from the helicopter during flight, damage to critical flight components, 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.
