Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France) Helicopters
airworthiness · Rule · Final rule. · Published 2016-03-04 · Effective 2016-04-08 · 81 FR 11407
Document
Document number
2016-04678
Federal Register citation
81 FR 11407
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
airworthiness
Manufacturer
Airbus
Publication date
2016-03-04
Effective date
2016-04-08
FAA docket
Docket No. FAA-2015-2568
Abstract
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-07-52 for certain Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter France) Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. AD 2014-07- 52 required repetitively inspecting certain reinforcement angles of the rear structure to tailboom junction frame (reinforcement angles) for a crack at 10 hour time-in-service (TIS) intervals, repairing any cracked reinforcement angle, and allowed an optional repetitive inspection with a 165 hour TIS inspection interval as a terminating action for the 10 hour TIS inspections. This AD retains the inspection requirements of AD 2014-07-52 and requires the inspection of the area around each reinforcement angle screw hole as terminating action to the 10 hour TIS inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect a crack in the reinforcement angle, which if not corrected, could result in loss of the tailboom and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.