Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA 3180, SA 318B, SA 318C, SE 3130, SE 313B, SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, and SE.3160 Helicopters

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-16-02 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Eurocopter France Model SA 3180, SA 318B, SA 318C, SE 3130, SE 313B, SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, and SE.3160 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires an initial and recurring visual inspections of the upper and lower surfaces of the tail rotor blade (blade) skin for cracks. If a crack is found, replacing the blade with an airworthy blade is required. This amendment is prompted by a report of a crack on the blade skin near an attachment bolt on the blade cuff stem. This condition, if not corrected, could result in fatigue failure of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.