Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23236 · Tail rotor drive
Airbus Helicopters
This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-23- 52, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. AD 2025-23-52, required replacing the center shaft assembly with a serviceable center shaft assembly (either a shaft with another part number (P/N) or the same P/N with lower hours time-in- service (TIS)) and prohibited installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable center shaft assembly on any helicopter. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-23-52, it was determined that for certain center shaft assemblies a repetitive inspection is adequate instead of replacement. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the center shaft assembly for cracks and replacing the center shaft assembly if it fails the inspection or exceeds a certain TIS. This AD also prohibits installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable center shaft assembly on any helicopter. 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 (EASA) Emergency AD 2025-0262-E, dated November 25, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E).
(1) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E refers to November 11, 2025 (the effective date of EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E), this AD requires using December 8, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-23-52).
(3) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(4) Where the material referenced in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E specifies to make photos, this AD does not require that action.
(5) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E.
Although the material referenced in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer and to return the parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not require those actions.
