AD/S-PUMA/66 Amdt 2 Main Rotor Head Spindles (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/S-PUMA/66 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 332 (Super Puma) Series Helicopters

AD/S-PUMA/66 Amdt 2 Main Rotor Head Spindles 10/2009 TX

Applicability:

Model AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, and AS 332 L1 helicopters, equipped with the following main rotor head spindles part number:

-     332A31-1390-(all dash numbers);

-     332A31-1398-(all dash numbers);

-     332A31-1410-02, -03, -04 and -05;

-     332A31-1485-00, -05 and -06.

Including those equipped with the (optional) main rotor blade folding system, incorporating lock supports, identified with the following part number:

-     332A31.1388.20, .21, .22, .23, .24 and .25;

-     332A32.1389.20, .21, .22, .23, .24 and .25.

Requirement:

Action in accordance with the requirements of EASA Emergency AD 2009-0164-E.

Note:  Eurocopter AS 332 ASB No. 05.00.67 Revision 2, dated 22 July 2009, and AS 332 SB No. 62.00.74, dated 22 July 2009, or later EASA approved revisions, refer.

Compliance:

As specified in the Requirement document.

This Amendment becomes effective on 31 July 2009.

Background:

The EASA received a report of the failure of the lower material section on the leading edge of a main rotor head spindle yoke on an AS 332 L helicopter.  The crack which led to the failure was externally visible.

Amendment 1 introduced both a check on main rotor heads equipped with the optional main rotor blade folding system, and the modification to certain lock supports of this optional equipment, in order to ease the subsequent checks.

Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new Emergency EASA AD, which retains the requirements of EASA AD 2006-0349R1, requires the removal of and prohibits (re)installation of spindle nut part number ASNA0045-060BCL on MRH units fitted with spindles part number 332A31-1410-(all dash numbers) and part number 332A31-1485-(all dash numbers) and requires parts re-identification of certain spindles in accordance with MOD 0743313.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

30 July 2009