Airworthiness Directives; Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale and Eurocopter France Model AS 350B, BA, B1, B2, and D, and Model AS 355E, F, F1, F2, and N Helicopters

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale and Eurocopter France (Eurocopter France) Model AS 350B, BA, B1, B2, and D, and Model AS 355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters, without an autopilot installed, that requires a visual inspection to determine whether the cyclic pitch change control rod (rod) end fittings were safetied, and removal and replacement of the rod if the rod end fittings were not safetied. This amendment is prompted by a manufacturer's report that some of the rod end fittings had not been safetied at the factory. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of tightening torque on the adjustment nuts of the rod, shifting of the neutral point of the cyclic stick, reduction in the amount of available movement of the cyclic stick in the roll axis, and subsequent reduction in the controllability of the helicopter.