Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21930 · Rotorcraft flight control
Airbus Helicopters
This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 helicopters, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-21- 03, which applied to Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 helicopters with a certain yaw control damper support (support) installed. AD 2014-21-03 required repetitively inspecting the support attachment points for a crack. Since the FAA issued AD 2014-21-03, an improved (reinforced) support was developed. This AD retains the inspection requirements of AD 2014-21-03 and requires installing the improved support as specified in a 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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0086, dated March 24, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0086).
(1) Where EASA AD 2021-0086 requires compliance from its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) The “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2021-0086 does not apply to this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2021-0086 requires compliance in terms of flight hours (FH), this AD requires using hours time-in-service (TIS).
(4) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0086 specifies using a light source and a mirror to ensure that there are no cracks on the support at the four attachments of the yaw damper, and “if there is any doubt” removing the yaw damper, this AD requires the yaw damper to be removed prior to that inspection.
(5) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD specifies discarding certain parts, this AD requires removing those parts from service.
(6) Where Table 1 of EASA AD 2021-0086 requires a compliance time of within 100 FH after April 3, 2014 (the effective date of EASA AD 2014-0080, dated March 27, 2014 [EASA AD 2014-0080]), this AD requires a compliance time of within 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD.
(7) Where Note 1 of EASA AD 2021-0086 identifies the FH specified in Table 1 are those accumulated by support part number 332A25-1334-00 on April 3, 2014 (the effective date of EASA AD 2014-0080) since first installation on a helicopter, this AD requires using the total hours TIS accumulated by the helicopter as of the effective date of this AD.
(8) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0086 allows credit for inspections accomplished before the effective date of its AD, this AD allows credit for the initial inspection if accomplished before the effective date of this AD.
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0086 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
