EASA AD No.
: 2011-0164R3
Airworthiness Directive
AD No.: 2011-0164R3
Issued: 07 April 2020
Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation
(EU) 2018/1139 on behalf of the European Union, its Member States and of the European third
countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 129 of that Regulation.
This AD is issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the
continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an aircraft to which
an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I,
Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Article 71 exemption].
Design Approval Holder’s Name: Type/Model designation(s):
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS 350 and AS 355 helicopters
Effective Date: Revision 3: 14 April 2020
Revision 2: 15 September 2017
Revision 1: 28 February 2017
Original issue: 14 September 2011
TCDS Number(s): EASA.R.008, EASA.R.146
Foreign AD: Not applicable
Revision: This AD revises EASA AD 2011-0164R2 dated 15 September 2017.
ATA 67 – Rotors Flight Control – Tail Rotor Control Stop Screws – Inspection
Manufacturer(s):
Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, Aerospatiale)
Applicability:
AS 350 B, AS 350 BA, AS 350 BB, AS 350 B1, AS 350 B2, AS 350 B3 and AS 350 D helicopters, all serial
numbers (s/n), if equipped with an Autopilot (AP), and AS350 B3 helicopters, all s/n, without an AP
installed, but embodying modification (mod) 073252; except helicopters that have embodied mod
074819.
AS 355 E, AS 355 F, AS 355 F1, AS 355 F2, AS 355 N and AS 355 NP helicopters, all s/n, if equipped
with an AP, and AS 355 N and AS 355 NP helicopters, all s/n, without an AP installed, but embodying
mod 071908; except helicopters that have embodied mod 074819.
Definitions:
For the purpose of this AD, the following definitions apply:
The applicable ASB: AH Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AS350-05.00.64 and ASB AS355-05.00.59 (any
revision), as applicable. Revision 2 of the applicable ASB contains, in chapter 1.A.1, pictures to
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EASA AD No.: 2011-0164R3
facilitate identification of the affected helicopter configuration(s). Helicopters without tail rotor
control stop screws are not affected by this AD.
Reason:
During take-off with a sling load, the pilot of an AS 350 B3 helicopter noticed that one of the yaw
stops had been reached before its usual position. The subsequent inspection revealed that a nut of
the tail rotor control stop was loose and that the corresponding tail rotor control stop screw was
out of adjustment.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, can lead to the loss of adjustment of the affected stop
and consequently limit yaw authority, possibly resulting in loss of control of the helicopter.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Eurocopter published Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)
AS350-05.00.64 and ASB AS355-05.00.59, providing inspection instructions.
Consequently, EASA issued AD 2011-0164 (later revised) to require repetitive inspections of the tail
rotor control stop screws and, depending on findings, adjustment. AH also developed, for post-mod
072295 helicopters, an optional modification (mod 074602) that would delete the need for
repetitive inspections.
Since EASA AD 2011-0164R2 was issued, AH developed an optional modification (mod
074819) applicable to all helicopters that would also remove the need for repetitive
inspections. AH issued SB AS350-67.00.73 and SB AS355-67.00.45 accordingly, providing
in-service modification instructions.
For the reason described above, this AD is revised to limit the Applicability, excluding post-
mod 074819 helicopters, and introducing that mod for all affected helicopters, which
constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections as required by this AD.
Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s):
Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:
Initial Inspection:
(1) Within 165 FH after 14 September 2011 [the effective date of the original issue of this AD],
inspect the tail rotor control stop screws in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.2
of the applicable ASB.
Corrective Action(s):
(2) If, during the inspection as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, discrepancies are detected,
before next flight, adjust the stops and, thereafter, mark a line of paint on the screw/nut
assembly, in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of the applicable ASB.
If, during the inspection as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, no discrepancies are detected,
before next flight, mark a line of paint on the screw/nut assembly, in accordance with the
instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of the applicable ASB.
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Repetitive Inspection(s):
(3) Within 165 FH after the inspection as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, and, thereafter, at
intervals not to exceed 165 FH, inspect the red paint lines on the screw and nut for alignment,
in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.3 of the applicable ASB.
Corrective Action(s):
(4) If, during any inspection as required by paragraph (3) of this AD, discrepancies are detected,
before next flight, remove the red paint marks, adjust the stops and mark a new line of paint on
the screw/nut assembly, in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of the
applicable ASB, as applicable to helicopter model.
Terminating Action:
(5) Corrective action(s) on a helicopter, as required by paragraph (4) of this AD, does not constitute
terminating action for the repetitive inspections as required by paragraph (3) of this AD for that
helicopter.
(6) Modification (mod 074602) of a post-mod 072295 helicopter in accordance with the
instructions of AH ASB AS350-67.00.61, or ASB AS355-67.00.42, as applicable, at original issue,
or Revision 2, or Revision 3 (or later), constitutes terminating action for the repetitive
inspections as required by paragraph (3) of this AD for that helicopter.
(7) Modification (mod 074819) of a helicopter in accordance with the instructions of AH SB AS350-
67.00.73 or SB AS355-67.00.45, as applicable, constitutes terminating action for the repetitive
inspections as required by paragraph (3) of this AD for that helicopter.
Ref. Publications:
Airbus Helicopters ASB AS350-05.00.64 original issue dated 30 August 2011, or Revision 1 dated
18 June 2015, or Revision 2 dated 25 January 2017 or Revision 3 dated 11 February 2020.
Airbus Helicopters ASB AS355-05.00.59 original issue dated 30 August 2011, or Revision 1 dated
18 June 2015, or Revision 2 dated 25 January 2017 or Revision 3 dated 11 February 2020.
Airbus Helicopters ASB AS350-67.00.61 original issue dated 18 June 2015, or Revision 2 dated
25 January 2017, or Revision 3 dated 04 September 2017.
Airbus Helicopters ASB AS355-67.00.42 original issue dated 18 June 2015, or Revision 2 dated
25 January 2017, or Revision 3 dated 04 September 2017.
Airbus Helicopters SB AS350-67.00.73 original issue dated 11 February 2020.
Airbus Helicopters SB AS355-67.00.45 original issue dated 11 February 2020.
The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned documents is acceptable for
compliance with the requirements of this AD.
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Remarks:
1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative Methods of
Compliance for this AD.
2. Based on the required actions and the compliance time, EASA have decided to issue a Final
AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public consultation process until after
publication
3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the EASA Programming and Continued
Airworthiness Information Section, Certification Directorate. E-mail: [email protected].
4. Information about any failures, malfunctions, defects or other occurrences, which may be
similar to the unsafe condition addressed by this AD, and which may occur, or have occurred
on a product, part or appliance not affected by this AD, can be reported to the EU aviation
safety reporting system.
5. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this AD, please
contact: Airbus Helicopters – Aéroport de Marseille Provence, 13725 Marignane Cedex,
France Telephone: +33 (4) 42 85 97 97, Fax: +33 (4) 42 85 99 66,
Web portal: https://keycopter.airbushelicopters.com Technical Requests Management.
E-mail: [email protected].
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