Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13343 · Eurocopter France Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 Helicopters
Eurocopter France Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 Helicopters
Group 1: Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters with main rotor blade (MRB), part number (P/N) 332A11-0022-00 through -03; P/N 332A11-0022-04, except those incorporating MOD 0740596; P/N 332A11- 0024-00 through -05; and P/N 332A11-0025-00 through -05, installed certificated in any category. Group 2: Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters with MRB, P/N 332A11-0022-04, that incorporates MOD 0740596; P/N 332A11-0024-06 and all higher dash numbers; and P/N 332A11-0025-06 and all higher dash numbers; and Model AS332L2 helicopters with MRB, P/N 332A11- 0040 all dash numbers, installed, certificated in any category.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters that requires inspecting certain main rotor blades for disbonds, which may be indicated by cracking, and repairing or replacing each main rotor blade (MRB) as necessary. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of disbonded leading edge protective strips. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect disbonding between the stainless steel protective strip and the MRB skin, which could cause loss of the protective strip, an out-of-balance condition, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
