Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B3 Helicopters

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-16-52 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B3 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires visually inspecting the heat shield attachment areas on the tail rotor drive shaft forward fairing (fairing) for a crack. This AD also requires, at specified time intervals, removing the fairing and inspecting the heat shield attachment areas on the fairing for a crack. If a crack is found, this AD requires replacing the fairing with an airworthy fairing. This amendment is prompted by an in-flight loss of the fairing heat shield due to cracking in the areas where the heat shield is attached to the fairing. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent an in-flight loss of the heat shield, impact with tail or main rotor blades, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.