Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109E Helicopters

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 99-03-10 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Agusta Model A109E helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight, inspections of the exhaust ejector locking system, clamp, and dampers for each engine. This AD also requires, at specified time intervals, verifying the torque of the metallic clamps and installing safety wire on the metallic clamps; inspecting and modifying the ejector saddles and the locking metallic clamps; and inspecting the metallic clamps, locking mechanisms, and dampers. This amendment is prompted by an inflight incident in which a metallic clamp which secured the left-hand engine exhaust ejector to the ejector saddle became detached and subsequently separated from the helicopter. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the metallic clamp or the engine exhaust ejector, which could result in damage to the main or tail rotor system and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.