AD/Ecureuil/74 Amdt 2 Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting (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/74 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (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/74 Amdt 2 Tail Servo Control Rod Eye End Fitting 2/2005

Applicability:

All Model AS 350 B, BA, B1, B2, B3, BB and D helicopters, equipped with tail servocontrols not incorporating Mod 073139 or Eurocopter AS 350 Service Bulletin No. 67.00.22.

Requirement:

1.    Inspect the eye end fitting to servocontrol rod coupling for correct locking in accordance with instructions in Paragraph 2.A of Eurocopter AS 350 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 05.00.37.R1 or later DGAC approved revisions.

2.    If play is found and/or the lockwasher is not correctly positioned carry out the maintenance procedure in paragraph 2B of Eurocopter AS 350 ASB 05.00.37.R1 or later DGAC approved revisions.

Note:  DGAC AD F-2001-580-085R2 EASA reference No. 2004-11502 refers.

Compliance:

For Requirement 1:

For helicopters that have logged more than 500 flight hours, unless previously accomplished, within 50 flight hours, thereafter repeat at intervals not to exceed 550 flight hours.

For helicopters that have logged less than 500 flight hours, unless previously accomplished, inspect prior to 550 flight hours thereafter repeat at intervals not to exceed 550 flight hours.

For Requirement 2:

Prior to further flight.

This Amendment becomes effective on 17 February 2005.

Background:

Eurocopter received a report of the tail servo control rod eye end fitting disconnecting during flight.  This condition led to the progressive reduction of the yaw control range and finally to the loss of servocontrol assistance.  This Directive therefore requires an initial inspection followed by the repetitive inspections.  Maintenance on the servocontrol rod eye end fitting will also need to be carried out should defects be found during the inspection.

This amendment incorporates MOD 073205 as part of the amendment to the reference ASB that is now at revision 1.

Amendment 1 of this Directive became effective on 3 October 2002.

The original issue of this Directive became effective on 20 February 2002.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

23 December 2004

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 January 2005.