Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held By Eurocopter France) (Airbus Helicopters)

We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-22-05 for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, C, D, D1, AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP helicopters with certain tail rotor (T/R) pitch control rods (control rods) installed. AD 2011-22-05 required checking the control rod for play before the first flight of each day. This new AD requires checking the control rod for play within 30 hours time-in-service (TIS) and, if no bearing play is detected, thereafter at intervals not to exceed 30 hours TIS. The actions in this AD are intended to prevent failure of a T/R control rod, loss of T/R control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.