Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18088 · Main rotor drive rotorcraft cooling fan system
Airbus Helicopters (Formerly Eurocopter France)
This AD applies to Model EC130T2 helicopters, certificated in any category.
We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter France) Model EC130T2 helicopters, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the attachment points where the fan attaches to the main gearbox (MGB) oil cooler hopper (hopper) and replacing any cracked hopper with an airworthy hopper. This AD is prompted by several cases of a cracked hopper. The cracks were found on the hopper at the fan attachment points. These actions are intended to detect a crack in the hopper at a fan attachment point to prevent failure of the fan attachment, interference of the fan with the control rod of the front servo-control or with the flight control bellcrank, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
You are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished prior to that time.
Before further flight and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours time-in-service, using a light and a mirror, visually inspect the hopper for a crack at the four fan attachment points. The hopper is depicted as item “a” and the fan as item “b” in Figure 1 of Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 05A020, Revision 0, dated October 20, 2014 (EASB). If there is a crack in the hopper, replace the hopper with an airworthy hopper. Examples of a crack are shown in Figure 2 of the EASB. Replacing the hopper does not constitute terminating action for the repetitive visual inspections required by this AD.
