Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21712 · Tail rotor system
Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters
This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters, certificated in any category, with an affected part as identified in European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 2018-0292, dated December 28, 2018 (EASA AD 2018-0292).
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report that, during a post-flight inspection of an in- service helicopter, a tail rotor slider assembly was found fractured, and the bushing and the actuator rod in the tail rotor servo were partially damaged. This AD requires an inspection of the rail rotor tail rotor slider assembly for corrosion and signs of circumferential refinishing and, depending on the findings, replacement of the tail rotor slider assembly with a serviceable part or repetitive inspections of the tail rotor slider assembly for corrosion and signs of circumferential refinishing, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. 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, EASA AD 2018-0292.
(1) Where EASA AD 2018-0292 refers to flight hours (FH), this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2018-0292 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2018-0292 refers to “Part I of the ASB,” this AD requires using “Part I of section 3., Accomplishment Instructions of the ASB,” and where EASA AD 2018-0292 refers to “Part II of the ASB,” this AD requires using “Part II of section 3., Accomplishment Instructions of the ASB.”.
(4) Where the service information referred to in EASA AD 2018-0292 specifies to return certain parts, this AD does not include that requirement.
(5) Where the service information referred to in EASA AD 2018-0292 specifies to contact Leonardo S.p.a. “if in doubt” regarding if a tail rotor slider assembly needs to be replaced based on evidence of corrosion craters, replacement of an affected slider assembly is required by this AD but contacting Leonardo S.p.a. is not required by this AD.
(6) The “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2018-0292 does not apply to this AD.
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2018-0292 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
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.
Aircraft
