Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B and EC 155B1 Helicopters

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B and EC 155B1 helicopters that requires inspecting the chamfer of the stop on the cabin sliding doors (doors) and installing an airworthy stop if the chamfer exceeds a certain length; and prior to each flight, visually checking the door to determine if it is correctly locked in the open position before flying with the doors open, and checking the locking indicator light and the position of the door handles before flying with the doors closed. This amendment also requires revising the Limitations Section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to prohibit the opening or closing of a cabin sliding door at airspeeds of 40 or greater knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). This amendment is prompted by a report of a door separating from a helicopter during flight. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent separation of a door during flight and damage to the helicopter, resulting in a forced landing or loss of control of the helicopter.