AD/Ecureuil/135 Time Limits/Maintenance Checks (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Eurocopter AS 350 (Ecureuil) Series Helicopters

AD/ECUREUIL/135 Time Limits/Maintenance Checks 4/2009

Applicability:

EUROCOPTER (formerly EUROCOPTER FRANCE, AEROSPATIALE) AS 350B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3 and EC 130B4 helicopters.

Requirement:

The following measures are required as indicated:

1.    Review and assess the content of EC 130B4 Master Servicing Manual RN12 or AS 350B, AS 350D, AS 350B1, AS 350B2, AS 350BA, AS 350BB Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) RN11 or AS 350B3 ALS RN12, as applicable to the helicopter model; and

2.    Incorporate all additional part numbers (P/N) included in the applicable ALS revision into the approved maintenance program; and

3.    Thereafter, comply with any action (tasks, intervals, inspections) required by the applicable ALS revision.

The use of later approved revisions of the documents listed in this AD is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Note:  EASA AD 2009-0011 dated 28 January 2009 refers.

Compliance:

From the effective date of this AD.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 9 April 2009.

Background:

The EC 130B4 Master Servicing Manual has been approved as normal revision RN12 under EASA approval number EASA.R.C.03267.  Such revision incorporates in Chapter 04 ALS two new parts and, consequently, two new P/N of Frequency Adapter have been added in ALS 04-10-00, sub-section C - Main Rotor Head:

• E-4165F11;

• 365A31-1019-25.

The AS 350B and AS 350D ALS have been approved as normal revision RN 011 under EASA approval number EASA.R.C.03268.  New Frequency Adapter P/N have been added in ALS 05-99-00, sub-section 62-20 - Main Rotor Head:

• 365A31-1019-20;

• 365A31-1019-21;

• E1T2549-11;

• 365A31-1019-27.

The AS 350B1, AS 350B2, AS 350BA, AS 350BB ALS have been approved as normal revision RN 011 and AS 350B3 ALS has been approved as normal revision RN12 under EASA approval number EASA.R.C.03268.  New Frequency Adapter P/N have been added in ALS 05-99-00, subsection 62-20 - Main Rotor Head:

• 365A31-1019-25;

• E-4165F11;

• 365A31-1019-22;

• 365A31-1019-23.

Failure of any of these components or their constituent parts could lead to loss of control of the helicopter.

This AD requires complying with the airworthiness limitations of the new P/N included in the ALS revisions as described above.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

19 February 2009