Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21179 · Tail rotor drive system
Leonardo S.p.A (Type Certificate Previously Held by Agusta S.p.A) Helicopters
This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.A. (type certificate previously held by Agusta S.p.A.) Model A109E, A109K2, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters, certificated in any category, with a tail rotor blade retention bolt (bolt) having part number (P/N) 709-0160-57-101 installed.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-07- 08, which applied to certain Leonardo S.p.A (type certificate previously held by Agusta S.p.A) Model A109E, A109K2, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2018-07-08 required reducing the life limit of the tail rotor blade retention bolt and an inspection of that bolt for cracking, and replacement of any cracked bolt. This AD continues to require reducing the life limit of the tail rotor blade retention bolt, inspecting that bolt for cracking, and replacing any cracked bolt. In addition, this AD requires repetitive inspections of the tail rotor blade retention bolt for cracking. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Before further flight:
(i) For Model A109E and A109K2 helicopters, remove from service any bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 that has 800 or more hours time-in-service (TIS). If the hours TIS is unknown, remove the bolt from service. Thereafter, remove from service any bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 before accumulating 800 hours TIS.
(ii) For Model A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters, remove from service any bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 that has 3,200 or more landings. If the number of landings is unknown, remove the bolt from service. Thereafter, remove from service any bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 before accumulating 3,200 landings. For purposes of this AD, a landing is counted anytime a helicopter lifts off into the air and then lands again regardless of the duration of the landing and regardless of whether the engine is shutdown.
(iii) Remove from service any bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 that has 800 or more hours TIS, or 3,200 or more landings, that has been interchanged between different model helicopters listed in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD. If the hours TIS or number of landings is unknown, remove the bolt from service. Thereafter, remove from service any bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 that has been interchanged between different model helicopters listed in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD before accumulating 800 hours TIS or 3,200 landings, whichever occurs first.
(2) Within 25 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 200 hours TIS, remove each bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101. Prior to cleaning, using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass, inspect each bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 for any crack in the area depicted in Figure 1 of Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No. 109EP- 149, 109K-72, 109S-072, 109SP-105, or 119-080, all dated August 19, 2016, as applicable to your model helicopter.
(i) If there is any crack, replace the bolt with an airworthy bolt before further flight.
(ii) If there are no cracks, before further flight, clean and degrease the inspection area of the bolt with solvent, and using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass, inspect each bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 for any crack in the area depicted in Figure 1 of Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No. 109EP-149, 109K-72, 109S-072, 109SP-105, or 119-080, all dated August 19, 2016, as applicable to your model helicopter. If there is any crack, replace the bolt with an airworthy bolt before further flight.
(3) As of the effective date of this AD, installation of a bolt having P/N 709-0160-57-101 is allowed, provided that the bolt has passed an inspection as required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.
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.
