Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22984 · Main rotor head
Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter France)
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters (type certificate previously held by Eurocopter France) Model EC120B helicopters, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-10-01 and AD 2010-05-51, which applied to certain Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2008-10-01 required replacing certain part-numbered and serial-numbered spherical thrust bearings. AD 2010-05-51 required repetitively inspecting the main rotor (M/R) head rotor hub (rotor hub) and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. Since the FAA issued those ADs, the manufacturer revised the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) to incorporate various airworthiness limitations, tasks, and associated thresholds and intervals that were previously contained in service bulletins, as well as incorporate a new task. This AD requires revising the ALS of the existing maintenance manual (MM) or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICAs) and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, 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 2023-0083, dated April 19, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0083).
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0083 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of EASA AD 2023-0083.
(3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0083 specifies “Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the approved AMP,” this AD requires replacing that text with “Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the airworthiness limitations section of the existing maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable.”
(4) Regarding “the ALS” as defined in EASA AD 2023-0083; where the material referenced in “the ALS” in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0083 specifies contacting Airbus [Helicopters] if there is a crack in the (main rotor head rotor) hub body, this AD does not require contacting Airbus Helicopters.
(5) The initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0083 is on or before the applicable “limitations” and “associated thresholds” as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023-0083 or within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
(6) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2023-0083.
After the action required by paragraph (g) of this AD has been done, no alternative actions and associated thresholds and intervals, including life limits, are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the “Ref. Publications” section of EASA AD 2023-0083.
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.
