EASA AD No.: 2008-0204R1 

TE.CAP.00110-003 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 1/2 

Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2008-0204R1 

Date: 21 May 2014 

Note: This 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 EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.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 : 

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Revision: This AD revises EASA AD 2008-0204 dated 04 December 2008 which superseded 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 Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, Société Nationale 

Industrielle Aerospatiale (SNIAS) 

Applicability: SA 365 N, SA 365 N1, AS 365 N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters, all serial 

numbers, except those that have embodied Airbus Helicopter modification 

(mod) 07 55B28. 

Reason: Eurocopter received some reports of failed horizontal stabilizers on AS 365 N3 

helicopters. The failures occurred during acceptance 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 sections. In each case, the helicopters 

returned to base with no further problems. 

To ensure the safety of flight and people on the ground, EASA issued 

Emergency AD 2008-0110-E to require introduction of a never-exceed speed 

(VNE) limitation for helicopters with certain horizontal stabilizer Part Number(s) 

(P/N) installed. 

After that AD was issued, test results revealed that 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 result 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 installed horizontal stabilizer, 

and in addition required implementation of a -1500 ft/min Rate of Descent 

(R/D) limitation beyond 140 knots Indicated Air Speed (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. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.

Considering that the stabilizer assembly procedure on SA 366 G1 helicopters 

modified the dynamic behaviour of the stabilizer, it 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 the Applicability. As a 

result, the VNE limitation as required by EASA AD 2008-0110-E could be 

removed from those helicopters. 

After EASA AD 2008-0204 was issued, Airbus Helicopters developed mod 

(07 55B28) which improves the dynamic behaviour of the horizontal stabilizer. 

This AD is revised to exclude post-mod 07 55B28 helicopters 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 previously: 

(1) Before next flight after 07 June 2008 [the effective date of EASA AD 

2008-0110-E], in accordance with the instructions of Eurocopter Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) 01.00.60, accomplish the following: 

 - Amend the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to include 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 cockpit instrument panel, in 

full view of the pilot and co-pilot, as specified in 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 instructions of Eurocopter ASB 

01.00.60 Revision 1, accomplish the following: 

 - Amend the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to include a -1500 feet/minute 

rate of descent (R/D) limitation beyond 140 knots. 

This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the RFM. 

 - Install one or more labels (placards) on the cockpit instrument panel, in 

full view of the pilot and co-pilot, as specified in 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 document 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. 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 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: 

Airbus Helicopters (STDI) 

Aéroport de Marseille Provence 13725 Marignane 

Cedex, France; telephone +33 (4) 12 85 97 97; facsimile +33 (4) 85 99 66;

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