Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22338 · Tail rotor drive system
Airbus Helicopters
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a partially broken tail rotor drive fan support (fan support) and a completely broken fan support. This AD requires repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered fan supports (affected parts), and depending on the results, removing an affected part from service and replacing it with a serviceable part, which constitutes a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD also requires replacing affected parts with serviceable parts unless already accomplished and prohibits installing an affected part on any helicopter, 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 paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0180, dated August 29, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0180).
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0180 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2022-0180 refers to the effective dates specified in paragraphs (h)(2)(i) and (ii) of this AD, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(i) May 3, 2022 (the effective date of EASA AD 2022-0069, dated April 19, 2022).
(ii) The effective date of EASA AD 2022-0180.
(3) Where paragraphs (2) and (3) of EASA AD 2022-0180 specify “replacing each affected part with a serviceable part,” for this AD, replace that text with “removing each affected part from service and replacing it with a serviceable part.”
(4) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0180 specifies to use tooling, this AD allows the use of equivalent tooling.
(5) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0180 specifies to discard parts, this AD requires removing those parts from service.
(6) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 2022-0180.
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0180 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
