AD/Ecureuil/30 Amdt 2 Main Rotor Sleeve Beams (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ECUREUIL/30 Amdt 1 and issues the following 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/30 Amdt 2 Main Rotor Sleeve Beams 6/2007

Applicability:

All model AS 350 helicopters with main rotor head roving blade sleeve, upper and lower sleeve attach beams part numbers :

350A.31.1830.00 and 01;

350A.31.1831.00 and 01;

350A.31.1831.04 and 05;

350A.31.1831.06 and 07.

Requirement:

Inspect the Main Rotor Sleeve Beams in accordance with Aerospatiale Telex Service Bulletin 01.16, or later EASA approved revision.

Compliance:

Before the next flight following discovery of a sudden or repeated blade tracking problem.

This Amendment becomes effective on 7 June 2007.

Background:

The manufacturer reports cracking in the blade attachment area of the main rotor sleeve beams.

Amendment 1 varied the applicability to refer to specific sleeve attach beam part numbers.

Amendment 2 is issued to correct the Requirement document reference number.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective in May 1986.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

27 April 2007