Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21120 · Main rotor system
Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter France) Helicopters
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate previously held by Eurocopter France) Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters, certificated in any category, without Airbus Helicopters Modification 0762C37 (Starflex star arm part number (P/N) 365A31-1212-00 or P/N 365A31-1213-00) installed.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-12-07 for Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters. AD 2011-12-07 required repetitively inspecting the adhesive bead between the bushings and the Starflex star (Starflex) arms and the Starflex arm ends. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2011-12-07 while omitting helicopters with an improved Starflex installed from the applicability. This AD was prompted by the development of the improved Starflex by Airbus Helicopters. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.
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.
Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS:
(1) Visually inspect the adhesive bead between the bushing and the Starflex arm for a crack, a gap, and loss of the adhesive bead, and inspect the Starflex arm ends for delamination in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 2.B.1. and 2.B.2. of Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) No. 05.00.51, Revision 4, dated November 20, 2014 (EASB 05.00.51), EASB No. 05.35, Revision 4, dated November 20, 2014 (EASB 05.35), or EASB No. 05.28, Revision 4, dated November 20, 2014 (EASB 05.28), as applicable to your model helicopter.
(2) If there is a crack in the shockproof paint around the entire adhesive bead where the Starflex arm joins the bushing (as shown in Figure 2 of EASB 05.00.51, EASB 05.35, or EASB 05.28, as applicable to your model helicopter), a gap between the adhesive bead and the bushing (as shown in Figure 3 of EASB 05.00.51, EASB 05.35, or EASB 05.28, as applicable to your model helicopter), delamination of a Starflex arm end (as shown in Figure 4 of EASB 05.00.51, EASB 05.35, or EASB 05.28, as applicable to your model helicopter), or loss of adhesive bead (as shown in Figure 5 of EASB 05.00.51, EASB 05.35, or EASB 05.28, as applicable to your model helicopter), replace the Starflex before further flight.
