Notification of A Proposal To Issue An Airworthiness Directive
Notification of A Proposal To Issue An Airworthiness Directive
Notification of A Proposal To Issue An Airworthiness Directive
: 20-060
In accordance with the EASA Continuing Airworthiness Procedures, the Executive Director is proposing the issuance of an EASA Airworthiness Directive
(AD), applicable to the aeronautical product(s) identified below.
All interested persons may send their comments, referencing the PAD Number above, to the e-mail address specified in the ‘Remarks’ section, prior to
the consultation date indicated.
Manufacturer(s):
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD), formerly Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH; Eurocopter
España S.A.
Applicability:
EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 P3, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, EC135 T2+, EC135 T3, EC635 P2+,
EC635 P3, EC635 T1, EC635 T2+ and EC635 T3 helicopters, all serial numbers up to 1274 inclusive.
Definitions:
For the purpose of this AD, the following definitions apply:
The ASB: Airbus Helicopters (AH) Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EC135-67A-041.
Hard landing: Any landing identified as “hard landing” based on the criteria in the applicable Master
Service Manual (MSM) chapter 05-51-00, section 6-3 “Conditional inspections after a hard landing”.
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EASA PAD No.: 20-060
Qualified instructions: Inspection and corrective action(s) instructions as identified in section 3.D of
the ASB; or in the applicable MSM chapter 05-51-00, section 6-3, having an issue date other than 22
June 2018.
Periodical inspection: Helicopter inspection in accordance with the instructions of the applicable
MSM chapter 05-24-00, section 6-1.
Groups: Group 1 helicopters are those on which, after the last hard landing, as defined in this AD,
an inspection in accordance with qualified instructions, or a periodical inspection, has not been
accomplished. Group 2 helicopters are those which are not Group 1.
The AMP: The approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme (AMP) on the basis of which the
operator or the owner ensures the continuing airworthiness of each operated helicopter. For
affected helicopters operated under EU regulation, compliance with the approved AMP is required
by Commission Regulation (EU) 1321/2014, Part M.A.301, paragraph 3.
Reason:
It has been determined that the EC135/EC635 MSM chapter 05-51-00, section 6-3, issue date 22
June 2018, provides incomplete instructions for the inspections after a hard landing.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to missed identification of tail rotor control damage,
possibly resulting in component or system failure, with consequent reduced control of the
helicopter.
To address this potential unsafe condition, AH issued the ASB to provide inspection instructions.
For the reason described above, this AD requires, for certain helicopters, a one-time inspection of
the tail rotor control system, and depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective
action(s). This AD also requires an inspection after each hard landing, in accordance with qualified
instructions.
Inspection:
(1) Group 1 helicopters: Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, accomplish an
inspection of the tail rotor control system in accordance with the instructions of the ASB.
(2) Accomplishment of an inspection of the tail rotor control system of a helicopter in accordance
with the instructions of Aircraft Maintenance Manual chapter 67-20-00, section 5-2, is an
acceptable alternative method to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this AD for
that helicopter.
(3) Group 1 and Group 2 helicopters: From the effective date of this AD, before next flight after
each hard landing, as defined in this AD, inspect the helicopter in accordance with qualified
instructions, as defined in this AD.
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EASA PAD No.: 20-060
Corrective Action(s):
(4) If, during any inspection as required by paragraph (1) or (3) of this AD, or as specified in
paragraph (2) of this AD, as applicable, any discrepancy is found, before next flight, accomplish
the applicable corrective action(s) in accordance with qualified instructions, as defined in this
AD.
Recording AD Compliance:
(5) Revising the AMP of a helicopter by incorporating the qualified instructions, as defined in this
AD, ensures continued accomplishment of those instructions for that helicopter. Consequently,
after that AMP revision, it is not necessary that accomplishment of any action as required by
this AD is recorded for AD compliance demonstration on a continued basis.
Ref. Publications:
AH ASB EC135-67A-041 original issue dated 06 April 2020.
The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned documents is acceptable for
compliance with the requirements of this AD.
Remarks:
1. This Proposed AD will be closed for consultation on 05 May 2020.
2. Enquiries regarding this PAD should be referred to the EASA Programming and Continued
Airworthiness Information Section, Certification Directorate. E-mail: [email protected].
3. Information about any failures, malfunctions, defects or other occurrences, which may be
similar to the unsafe condition addressed by this PAD, and which may occur, or have occurred
on a product, part or appliance not affected by this PAD, can be reported to the EU aviation
safety reporting system.
4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this PAD, please
contact: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH, Industriestrasse 4, 86609 Donauwörth, Federal
Republic of Germany, Telephone: + 33 (0)4 42 85 97 97;
Web portal: https://keycopter.airbushelicopters.com > Technical Request Management
E-mail: [email protected].
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An agency of the European Union