Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21419 · Passenger/crew doors
Airbus Helicopters
This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters, certificated in any category, with any sliding door installed.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD was prompted by the in-flight loss of a sliding door. This AD requires inspecting each sliding door and replacing the upper rail or front roller or removing the front roller from service if necessary. 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 30 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD:
(1) Inspect the upper rail of each right hand (RH) and left hand (LH) door for parallelism, deformation, corrosion, and cracking. If necessary, adjust the sliding door, ensuring that the parallelism between the sliding door and its frame does not exceed 1.5 mm (.059 in) on a length of 1,200 mm (47.24 in). The frame includes the sliding door, the overhead panel, and the two rear bulkheads. Repair or replace the upper rail before further flight if there is any deformation, corrosion, or cracking.
(2) With the sliding door removed, inspect the front roller to determine if it is below the minimum diameter of 17.5 mm (0.69 in), below the minimum height of 17 mm (0.67 in), if it has any corrosion or flat spot, and to determine if it is correctly installed per Figure 1 of Airbus Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-52.00.54 or ASB No. AS355-52.00.32, each at Revision 1 and dated July 30, 2020, as applicable to your helicopter model. If the front roller is below the minimum diameter, below the minimum height, or has any flat spot or corrosion, before further flight, remove the front roller from service. If the front roller was not correctly installed, reinstall it correctly before further flight.
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.
