Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21528 · Main gearbox oil cooler
Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter France) Helicopters
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2025-08-06. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters (type certificate previously held by Eurocopter France) Model SA330J helicopters, certificated in any category, with main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan (fan) rotor shaft bearings (both rear and front) part number (P/N) 704A33651114 (manufacturer P/N (MP/N) 205FFTX74K6-G33) or P/N 704A33651268 (MP/N 594918), installed.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-16- 51, which applied to certain Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters (Airbus)) Model SA330J helicopters. AD 2010-16-51 required inspecting for a gap between the main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan assembly (fan) rotor blade and the upper section of the guide vane bearing housing and depending on the results, replacing the two fan rotor shaft bearings with two airworthy bearings. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2010-16-51 and also requires installing improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearings and repetitively inspecting the new improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearings, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. AD 2010-16-51 was prompted by the separation of a fan rotor blade that caused puncture holes in the transmission deck. This new AD was prompted by the development of an improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearing design. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0171, dated July 28, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0171).
(1) Where EASA AD 2020-0171 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) The “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2020-0171 does not apply to this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2020-0171 refers to flight hours (FH), this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(4) Where EASA AD 2020-0171 requires measuring for play, this AD requires measuring the gap between each MGB fan rotor blade and the upper section of the guide vane bearing housing.
(5) Where “The ASB” service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0171 specifies to return certain parts to Airbus Helicopters, this AD requires removing those parts from service instead.
(6) While “The ASB” service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0171 specifies completing the response form in Appendix 4, this AD does not contain that requirement.
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0171 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
