EASA AD No.: 2012-0129-E

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EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2012-0129-E

Date: 13 July 2012

Note: This Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance 

with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States 

and of the European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of 

that Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 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 

[EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name :

EUROCOPTER

Type/Model designation(s) :

AS 332 and EC 225 helicopters

TCDS Number: EASA.R.002

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: This AD supersedes EASA AD 2009-0099-E dated 23 April 2009.

ATA 63 Main Rotor Drive – Main Gear Box, Intermediate gear Box and Tail 

Gear Box – Modification / Inspection

Manufacturer(s): Eurocopter (formerly EUROCOPTER France)

Applicability: AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, AS 332 L1, AS 332 L2 and EC 225 LP

helicopters, all serial numbers.

Reason: Following an accident with an AS 332 L2 helicopter on 1 April 2009, off the 

coast of Scotland near Aberdeen, the preliminary results of the investigations

showed a failure within the epicyclic reduction gear module of the Main Gear 

Box (MGB) which resulted in the rupture of the MGB case and allowed the 

main rotor head to separate from the helicopter.

To address this potential unsafe condition on the AS 332 L2 and EC 225 LP 

helicopter models equipped with a similar MGB, enhancement of the means for 

detection of MGB contamination and degradation was deemed of the utmost 

importance.

As an initial precautionary measure, EASA issued AD 2009-0087-E with that 

aim. Additionally, EASA issued AD 2009-0095-E to require a one-time 

inspection to detect particles in the MGB epicyclic reduction gear module .

Subsequently, EASA issued AD 2009-0099-E , which retained the main 

requirements of ADs 2009-0087-E and 2009-0095-E, which were superseded, 

and required modification of the chip collector inside the MGB (located 

between the epicyclic module and the main module) to enhance the early 

detection capability of the magnetic plugs of the gearbox sump and the 

epicyclic module. To that aim, AD 2009-0099-E required removing the 

magnetic elements installed on the chip collector and the flanged edged from 
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the chip collector (equivalent to production MOD 0752522). After 

accomplishment of the modification, the AD also required monitoring of the 

MGB epicyclic reduction gear module magnetic plug of the affected helicopter 

models.

Since issuance of EASA AD 2009-0099-E, the UK Air Accident Investigation 

Board published the final accident report. On the basis of these investigation 

findings, it has been decided to standardize the intervals of the visual checks 

of all electrical and non-electrical chip detectors, and to require this check for

all models of the Super-Puma helicopter family, in order to increase the 

likelihood of detecting any adhered particles. This action must be 

accomplished on all rotor drive system gear boxes, i.e. on the MGB, but also 

on the Intermediate Gear Box (IGB) and the Tail Gear Box (TGB).

For the reasons described above, this new AD retains the requirement for the 

accomplishment of MOD 0752522 of AD 2009-0099-E, which is superseded, 

expands the Applicability and requires repetitive visual checks of all electrical 

and non-electrical chip detectors installed on MGB, IGB and TGB.

Effective Date: 15 July 2012

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

(1) For AS 332 L2 and EC 225 LP helicopters, before next flight after 24 

April 2009 [the effective date of AD 2009-0099-E], modify the MGB 

epicyclic reduction gear module (MOD 0752522) in accordance with the 

instructions of paragraph 2.B of Eurocopter AS332 Alert Service Bulletin 

(ASB) No. 05.00.81 revision 3, or EC225 ASB No. 05A017 revision 3, as 

applicable to helicopter model.

(2) Modification of a MGB epicyclic reduction gear module (MOD 0752522), 

accomplished before the effective date of this AD, in accordance with the 

instructions of Eurocopter AS332 ASB No. 05.00.81 revision 2, or EC225

ASB No. 05A017 revision 2, as applicable to helicopter model, is 

acceptable for compliance with the modification as required by paragraph 

(1) of this AD.

(3) After 24 April 2009 [the effective date of AD 2009-0099-E], do not install 

on any AS 332 L2 and EC 225 LP helicopters a MGB, unless it has been 

modified in production with MOD 0752522 or in service in accordance with 

the instructions of Eurocopter AS332 ASB No. 05.00.81 revision 2 or 

revision 3, or EC225 ASB No. 05A017 revision 2 or revision 3, as 

applicable to helicopter model.

(4) For all helicopters, within the compliance times after the effective date of 

this AD, as specified in Appendix 1 of this AD for initial and repetitive

inspections, visually check for no particles all non-electrical and electrical 

chip detectors, in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B of 

Eurocopter ASB No. AS332.05.00.94 or ASB No. EC225.05A029, as 

applicable to helicopter model, as listed in that Appendix 1 of this AD.

(5) If, during any inspection as required by paragraph (4) of this AD, a particle

is found, before next flight, accomplish the applicable maintenance actions 

in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B of Eurocopter ASB 

No. AS332.05.00.94 and ASB No. EC225.05A029, as applicable to 

helicopter model.

(6) Accomplishment of applicable maintenance actions as required by 

paragraph (5) of this AD does not constitutes termination action for the 

repetitive visual checks as required by (4) of this AD.

Ref. Publications: Eurocopter AS332 ASB No. 05.00.81 Revision 3 dated 13 July 2012;

Eurocopter EC225 ASB No. 05A017 Revision 3 dated 13 July 2012;

Eurocopter ASB No. AS332.05.00.94 Revision 0 dated 13 July 2012;
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Eurocopter ASB No. EC225.05A029 Revision 0 dated 13 July 2012.

The use of later approved revisions of these documents is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks : 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD.

2. The results of the safety assessment have indicated the need for 

immediate publication and notification, without the full public consultation 

process.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

Section, Executive Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact:

EUROCOPTER (STDI) – Aéroport de Marseille Provence 13725 

Marignane Cedex, France; telephone +33 (4) 42 85 97 97; facsimile +33 

(4) 42 85 99 66; E-mail: Directive.technical-support@eurocopter.com.

Appendix 1 – Chip Detectors visual inspections (initial and repetitive checks)

Helicopter 

model(s) Chip Detectors of Type of Chip Detectors Inspections after the effective date of this AD

AS 332 C,

AS 332 C1,

AS 332 L,

AS 332 L1,

- Mast tapered housing

Non-Electrical Chip Detectors

or

Electrical Chip Detectors, not 

connected to instrument panel 

caution light (for EuroHums or 

EuroArms systems only)

Within 25 FH or before next scheduled chip 

detector inspection ,whichever occurs first, and 

- MGB bottom casing, thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 FH

- IGB and TGB

- MGB bottom casing,

- IGB and TGB

Electrical Chip Detectors, 

connected to instrument panel 

caution light

Within 50 FH or before next scheduled chip 

detector inspection ,whichever occurs first, and 

thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 FH

AS 332 L2

- Mast tapered housing

- MGB epicyclic 

module,

- IGB and TGB

Non-Electrical Chip Detectors

or

Electrical Chip Detectors, not 

connected to instrument panel 

caution light (for EuroHums or 

EuroArms systems only)

Within 25 FH or before next scheduled chip 

detector inspection ,whichever occurs first, and 

thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 FH

- MGB bottom casing Electrical Chip Detectors

Within 50 FH or before next scheduled chip 

detector inspection ,whichever occurs first, and 

thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 FH

EC 225 LP

- Mast tapered housing

- MGB epicyclic 

module

- MGB bottom casing,

- IGB and TGB

Electrical Chip Detectors

Within 50 FH or before next scheduled chip 

detector inspection ,whichever occurs first, and 

thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 FH