Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21243 · Tail rotor blades
Airbus Helicopters
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2021-04-04. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter France) Model SA330J helicopters, certificated in any category, with a tail rotor (T/R) blade part number 330A12-0005-(all dash numbers) or 330A12-0006-(all dash numbers) installed.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-22-19 for Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model SA330F, G, and J helicopters. AD 2000-22-19 required repetitively inspecting certain tail rotor (T/R) blades for skin debonding and a crack. Since the FAA issued AD 2000-22-19, the inspection procedures have been revised. Additionally, the FAA is adding an affected part-numbered T/R blade and the FAA-validation for Model SA330F and G helicopters has been cancelled. This new AD revises the applicability, requires repetitively inspecting affected T/R blades with the new inspection procedures, and depending on the inspection results, repairing or replacing the T/R blade. This new AD also prohibits installing an affected T/R blade unless it has passed the inspections. 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.
(1) Within 30 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within 30 hours TIS after last inspecting the T/R blades as required by paragraph (a) of AD 2000-22-19, whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 15 hours TIS for T/R blades with deicing systems installed or 30 hours TIS for T/R blades without deicing systems installed:
(i) Inspect each T/R blade for debonding by following the visual and in-depth inspection procedures in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2., of Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.101, Revision 0, dated March 21, 2016 (EASB 05.101). If there is debonding within allowable limits, before further flight, repair or replace the T/R blade. If there is debonding that exceeds allowable limits, before further flight, replace the T/R blade.
(ii) Eddy current inspect each T/R blade for a crack by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.3.a. of EASB 05.101, then either paragraph 3.B.3.b.1. or 3.B.3.b.2. of EASB 05.101 depending on your crack detector, and paragraph 3.B.3.c. of EASB 05.101 except the “if there are no cracks” and “if there are one or several cracks” steps. Instead of the “if there are no cracks” and “if there are one or several cracks” steps, if there is a crack, before further flight, replace the T/R blade.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a T/R blade identified in paragraph (a) of this AD on any helicopter unless the actions of paragraph (f)(1) of this AD have been accomplished.
