Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18161 · Equipment/furnishing
Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France) Helicopters
This AD applies to Model AS365N3, EC155B, and EC155B1 helicopters with an external life raft in the footstep installed with a junction unit, manufacturer part number (P/N) 200197 or P/N 200188 (Airbus Helicopters P/N 704A341302.48 or 704A341302.30), certificated in any category.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter France) Model AS365N3, EC155B, and EC155B1 helicopters with an external life raft in the footsteps with certain part-numbered junction units. This AD requires inspecting the junction units of the external life raft deployment system for corrosion, removing any corrosion, and performing certain measurements to determine whether the junction unit must be replaced. This AD is prompted by failure of a life raft deployment test and corrosion damage inside the left-hand junction unit. These actions are intended to prevent failure of an external life raft to deploy preventing evacuation of passengers during an emergency.
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:
(1) Inspect each external life raft deployment system left-hand and right-hand junction unit for corrosion in the areas shown in Figure 3 of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC155-05A027, Revision 1, dated September 1, 2014 (ASB No. EC155-05A027), or ASB No. AS365-05.00.67, Revision 1, dated September 1, 2014, (ASB No. AS365-05.00.67), as applicable to your helicopter model.
(2) If there is corrosion, either remove the corrosion and apply a protective coating, primer, and paint to the surface or replace the junction unit with an airworthy junction unit.
(3) Measure the diameter of the junction unit cover and of each (internal and external) junction unit pulley for operational clearance. If the clearance is greater than 0.029 inch (0.75 mm) as depicted in Figure 4 of ASB No. EC155-05A027 or Figure 5 of ASB No. AS365-05.00.67, as applicable to your helicopter model, replace the junction unit with an airworthy junction unit.
(4) Inspect the drainage hole on the upper face of the junction unit cover, and if it is unplugged, plug it.
(5) Inspect the drainage hole on the lower surface of the junction unit cover, and if it is plugged, remove the plug.
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
