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EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2008 - 0049-E 

[Corrected: 07 March 2008] 

Date: 03 March 2008

No person may operate an aircraft to which an Airworthiness Directive applies, except in accordance with the 

requirements of that Airworthiness Directive unless otherwise agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry.

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

EUROCOPTER 

Type/Model designation(s) : 

SA 330 F, G and J helicopters 

TCDS Number: EASA R.002 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure: None 

ATA 65 Rotor Drive – Attachments of Main Gear Box (MGB) Input Flexible 

Coupling – Readjustment / Check 

Manufacturer(s): EUROCOPTER (formerly EUROCOPTER France, Aérospatiale). 

Applicability: SA 330 F, G and J helicopters, all serial numbers, equipped with Main Gear 

Box (MGB) input flexible coupling/flanges assemblies modified per 

modification (MOD) 0752416 and MOD 0752419, and that have never been 

subject to maintenance scheduled inspection as per Working Card 65.32.601 

since new or since MGB complete overhaul. 

Reason: Recently during a ground run, a helicopter suffered disks failure of a flexible 

coupling on one of the MGB inputs. The broken MGB input flexible 

coupling/flange assembly had embodied MOD 0752416 and MOD 0752419. 

This event is deemed to be the result of the loss of the tightening torque load 

or insufficient tightening of the bolts fixing the disks of the flexible coupling to 

its sliding and fixed flanges. In case the same condition develops on both 

Right Hand (RH) and Left Hand (LH) MGB inputs, a complete drive 

transmission loss could occur. 

For the reason described above, this Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

requires, depending on the Flight Hours (FH) accumulated by the input flexible 

coupling/flanges assemblies installed on the helicopter, either to readjust or to 

check the tightening torque load of the flexible coupling-to-flanges attachment 

bolts. 

This AD has been re-published to correct a typographical error in the 

Applicability section, quoting the wrong Working Card number. 

Effective Date: 04 March 2008 
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Compliance: Required as indicated, as from the effective date of this AD, on RH and LH 

MGB input flexible coupling/flanges: 

(1) For MGB input flexible coupling / sliding and fixed flange assemblies 

which have logged less than 50 FH since new or MGB complete 

overhaul, after accumulation of 50 FH but before accumulation of 75 FH 

since new or MGB complete overhaul, readjust the tightening torque 

load on the flexible coupling-to-flange attachment bolts, in accordance 

with the instructions given in paragraph 2.B.2.a. of Eurocopter SA 330 

Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 05.95. 

(2) For MGB input flexible coupling / sliding and fixed flange assemblies 

which have logged between 50 and 75 FH since new or MGB complete 

overhaul, 

either 

upon accumulation of 75 FH since new or MGB complete overhaul, 

readjust the tightening torque load on the flexible coupling-to-flange 

attachment bolts, in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 

2.B.2.a. of ASB 05.95; 

or 

before accumulation of 125 FH since new or MGB complete overhaul, 

check the tightening torque load on the flexible coupling-to-flange 

attachment bolts, in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 

2.B.2.b. of ASB 05.95. 

(3) For MGB input flexible coupling / sliding and fixed flange assemblies 

which have logged more than 75 FH since new or MGB complete 

overhaul, at the latest upon accumulation of 50 FH after the effective 

date of this AD, check the tightening torque load on the flexible 

coupling-to-flange attachment bolts, in accordance with the instructions 

given in paragraph 2.B.2.b. of ASB 05.95. 

(4) No person may install a MGB input flexible coupling/flanges assembly 

modified per MOD 0752416 and MOD 0752419 as a replacement part 

or a MGB equipped with input flexible coupling/flanges assemblies 

modified per MOD 0752416 and MOD 0752419, unless compliance with 

paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) above, as applicable, is performed. 

Ref. Publications: EUROCOPTER SA 330 Alert Service Bulletin N° 05.95 dated 03 March 2008. 

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD. 

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

Methods of Compliance for this AD. 

2. The safety assessment has requested not to implement the full 

consultation process and an immediate publication and notification. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be addressed to the AD Focal Point, 

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

4. For any questions concerning the technical content of the requirement s in 

this AD, please contact: 

EUROCOPTER (STDI) – Aéroport de Marseille Provence 13725 

Marignane Cedex- France. 

Telephone: +33 (4) 12 85 97 97; Fax: +33 (4) 85 99 66; 

E-mail: Directive.technical-support@eurocopter.com