Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21838 · Tail rotor blades
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters, certificated in any category, with tail rotor (TR) blade part number (P/N) L642A2002101, L642A2002103, L642A2002104, L642A2002111, or L642A2002112 installed.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reduced life limits being established for certain part-numbered tail rotor (TR) blades. This AD requires determining the total hours time-in-service (TIS) of certain part- numbered TR blades, establishing a life limit for certain part-numbered TR blades, removing from service any TR blade that has reached or exceeded its life limit, creating a component history card, re- identifying certain part-numbered TR blades, and removing any TR blade from service before reaching its retirement life. This AD also prohibits installing certain TR blades on certain model helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For all model helicopters identified in paragraph (c) of this AD, within 350 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, determine the total hours TIS of each TR blade P/N L642A2002101 or P/N L642A2002111 in accordance with paragraph 3.B.2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB EC135H-04A-002, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2020 (ASB EC135H-04A-002) or paragraph 3.B.2 (version A) or 3.B.4 (version B) of the Accomplishment Instructions of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB EC135-04A-014, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2020 (ASB EC135-04A-014) as applicable to your model helicopter. Remove from service any TR blade that has accumulated or exceeded 6,800 total hours TIS. For each TR blade that has accumulated less than 6,800 total hours TIS do the following:
(i) Create a component history card or equivalent record to establish a life limit of 6,800 total hours TIS.
(ii) Re-identify each TR blade P/N L642A2002101 as P/N L642A2002104 and re-identify each T/R blade P/N L642A2002111 as P/N L642A2002112 by following paragraph 3.B.5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of ASB EC135H-04A-002, or paragraph 3.B.7 of the Accomplishment Instructions of ASB EC135-04A-014 as applicable to your model helicopter.
(iii) Thereafter, remove from service any TR blade P/N L642A2002104 or P/N L642A2002112 before it accumulates 6,800 total hours TIS.
(2) For Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters with TR blade P/N L642A2002103 that has previously been installed on Model EC135P3 or EC135T3 helicopters, within 350 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, determine the total hours TIS of the TR blade in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, General Aviation and Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(3) For Model EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters within 350 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, remove from service any TR blade P/N L642A2002103 before exceeding 6,800 total hours TIS.
(4) For Model EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters, as of the effective date of this AD, do not install any TR blade P/N L642A2002101, P/N L642A2002103, or P/N L642A2002111 on any helicopter.
(5) For Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters, as of the effective date of this AD, do not install any TR blade P/N L642A2002101 or L642A2002111 that has accumulated or exceeded 500 total hours TIS while installed on a Model EC135P3 or EC135T3 helicopter.
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.
