EASA AD No.: 2008-0204R1

TE.CAP.00110-003 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 1/2 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Co nfirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Int ranet. 

## EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2008-0204R1

Date: 21 May 2014

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued b y EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the Europe an Community, its Member States and of the European third countries that participate in th e activities of EASA under Article 66 of that Regulation.
This AD is issued in accordance with EU 748/2012, P art 21.A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be en sured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Conseque ntly, no person may operate an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accor dance with the requirements of that AD, unless othe rwise specified by the Agency [EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/200 8, Article 14(4) exemption]. 

### Design Approval Holder’s Name : AIRBUS HELICOPTERS Type/Model designation(s) : SA 365 and AS 365 helicopters

TCDS Number : EASA.R.105

Foreign AD : Not applicable

Revision: This AD revises EASA AD 2008-0204 dated 04 December 2008 which superseded EASA Emergency AD 2008-0110-E dated 06 June 2008

.



### AT A55 Stabilizers – Never-Exceed Speed (VNE) and Rate-of- Descent (R/D)

– Limitations

Manufacturer(s): Airbus Helicopters, formerly Euroc opter, Eurocopter France, Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale (SNIAS)
Applicability: SA 365 N, SA 365 N1, AS 365 N2 and A S 365 N3 helicopters, all serial numbers, except those that have embodied Airbus Hel icopter modification (mod) 07 55B28.
Reason: Eurocopter received some reports of failed horizontal stabilizers on AS 365 N3 helicopters. The failures occurred during acceptanc e test and training flights as part of the demonstration of the never-exceed speed (VNE) and resulted into in-flight separation and loss of the failed section s. In each case, the helicopters returned to base with no further problems. To ensure the safety of flight and people on the gr ound, EASA issued Emergency AD 2008-0110-E to require introduction of a never-exceed speed (VNE) limitation for helicopters with certain horiz ontal stabilizer Part Number(s) (P/N) installed. After that AD was issued, test results revealed tha t the reported incidents were caused by a vibration phenomenon that may have been generated during descent flight phases at high speed, regardless of the stabilizer P/N. Pending the availability of a final solution as a r esult of further studies, EASA issued AD 2008-0204, retaining the requirements of AD 2008-0110-E, which was superseded, expanding the applicability of the VNE limitation to all SA 365 N and AS 365 N helicopters, regardless of P/N of in stalled horizontal stabilizer, and in addition required implementation of a -1500 ft/min Rate of Descent (R/D) limitation beyond 140 knots Indicated Air Spe ed (IAS).EASA AD No.: 2008-0204R1

TE.CAP.00110-003 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 2/2 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Co nfirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Int ranet. Considering that the stabilizer assembly procedure on SA 366 G1 helicopters modified the dynamic behaviour of the stabilizer, i t was concluded that the unsafe condition addressed by AD 2008-0204 did not exist on that helicopter and consequently, the SA 366 G1 was deleted from th e Applicability. As a result, the VNE limitation as required by EASA AD 2 008-0110-E could be removed from those helicopters. After EASA AD 2008-0204 was issued, Airbus Helicopt ers developed mod (07 55B28) which improves the dynamic behaviour of the horizontal stabilizer. This AD is revised to exclude post-mod 07 55B28 hel icopters from the Applicability.
Effective Date: Revision 1: 21 May 2014 Original issue: 08 December 2008
Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s): Required as indicated, unless accomplished previous ly: (1) Before next flight after 07 June 2008 [the effe ctive date of EASA AD 2008-0110-E], in accordance with the instructions o f Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 01.00.60, accomplish the fol lowing: - Amend the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to incl ude a VNE of 150 Knots IAS. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the RFM. - Install one or more labels (placards) on the coc kpit instrument panel, in full view of the pilot and co-pilot, as specified i n Eurocopter ASB 01.00.60, paragraph 2B, Figure 1, Item 1. (2) Before next flight after 08 December 2008 [the effective date of this AD at original issue], in accordance with the instruction s of Eurocopter ASB 01.00.60 Revision 1, accomplish the following: - Amend the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to incl ude a -1500 feet/minute rate of descent (R/D) limitation beyond 140 knots. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of thi s AD into the RFM. - Install one or more labels (placards) on the coc kpit instrument panel, in full view of the pilot and co-pilot, as specified i n Eurocopter ASB 01.00.60 Revision 1, paragraph 2B, Figure 1, Item 2.
Ref. Publications: Eurocopter ASB 01.00.60 dated 06 June 2008 and ASB 01.00.60 Revision 1 dated 02 December 2008. The use of later approved revisions of this documen t is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks : 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EA SA 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 Commen ts, postponing the public consultation process until after publication

. 3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred t o the Safety Information Section, Executive Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu. 4. For any question concerning the technical conten t of the requirements in this AD, please contact: Airbus Helicopters (STDI) Aéroport de Marseille Provence 13725 Marignane Cedex, France; telephone +33 (4) 12 85 97 97; facsi mile +33 (4) 85 99 66; E-mail: Directive.technical-support@eurocopter.com

.