Airworthiness Directives; Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale and Eurocopter France Model SA-365N, N1, and N2 Helicopters

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale and Eurocopter France Model SA-365N, N1, and N2 helicopters, that requires an inspection of the door jettison systems to determine if the handle shafts are locked to the jettison systems. If the inspection indicates the handle shafts are locked to the jettison systems, this AD requires installation of a snapwire on the jettison systems and a visual inspection of the door jettison handles to determine whether two spring pins are installed, and installation of a second spring pin, if necessary. If the initial inspection indicates that the handle shafts are not locked to the jettison systems, this AD requires replacement of the sheared spring pin with two spring pins. This amendment is prompted by a factory inspection performed by the manufacturer that revealed that the forward passenger door jettison handles may have been fitted with one spring pin instead of two spring pins at the door jettison handle attachment points. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a loss of the doors in flight and subsequent damage to the horizontal stabilizer, main fin, or lateral fins.