EASA AD No.: 2010-0237R2 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/5

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2010-0237R2 

Date: 14 December 2010 

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 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 Change Approval Holder : 

Agusta S.p.A. 

Keystone Helicopter Corporation 

Eurocopter UK Ltd 

Type/Model designation(s) : 

AB139 and AW139 helicopters 

Sikorsky S-92A helicopters 

Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK117 C-2 and 

EC 135 helicopters

TCDS Number : EASA.R.006 

STC Numbers : EASA.IM.R.S.01256 (validation of FAA STC SR02408NY-D) for S-92A 

EASA.R.S.01532 for EC 135 P2+ and T2+ 

EASA.10028851 for MBB-BK117 C-2 

United Kingdom (UK) AAN 26529 incl. minor change MCH/A/135/787 for EC 135 

Foreign AD : None 

Revision: This AD revises EASA AD 2010-0237R1 dated 22 November 2010; the original 

issue of this AD superseded EASA AD 2010-0183R1 dated 07 September 2010. 

ATA 25 Equipment / Furnishings – Spectrolab Nightsun XP Searchlight – 

Inspection / Removal / Replacement 

Manufacturer(s): Agusta S.p.A., Agusta Aerospace Corporation, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

Applicability: - Agusta S.p.A model AB139 and AW139 helicopters, and 

- Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S-92A helicopters, and 

- Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH model MBB-BK117 C-2 and EC 135 series 

helicopters, 

if equipped with certain Gimbal Assemblies, used on Spectrolab Nightsun XP 

Searchlight Assemblies listed in Table 1 of this AD. 

Table 1 

Gimbal Assembly P/N Searchlight Assembly 

P/N (any suffix) 

Modification Standard 

033295-1 033338 Revision D and lower 

033295-2 033704 Revision C and lower 

Note: The listed P/N identifications are those assigned by Spectrolab and 

might have been re-identified by the design change approval holder. 
EASA AD No.: 2010-0237R2 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/5

Reason: An incident has been reported by a Maintenance Organisation of vibration 

associated with the Nightsun XP Searchlight. Investigation revealed that the 

Gimbal Azimuth Top Hex Nut was loose. 

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a gap between the 

rubber edging of the top shroud and the Gimbal frame, resulting in 

degradation of pointing accuracy and stability performance and pose 

excessive vibration. If the nut were to entirely disengage, the 

Searchlight/Gimbal could disconnect from the helicopter and remain attached 

solely by the internal cable harness or separate totally, possibly resulting in 

damage to the helicopter or injury to persons on the ground. 

EASA issued Emergency AD 2010-0183-E, later revised, as an interim 

measure to require repetitive inspections and, depending on findings, the 

removal of the searchlight from the helicopter. 

Spectrolab, the Searchlight manufacturer, has now developed a modification 

of the Searchlight installation that remedies the problem by replacing the 

Nightsun XP gimbal azimuth top hex nut with a dual-locking nut. This action 

includes re-identification of the gimbals as either P/N 033295-3 or P/N 

033295-4 and assigns accordingly a new airworthy revision standard to the 

P/N of the modified Nightsun XP Searchlight Assembly. 

One of the affected approval holders, Eurocopter UK Ltd, subsequently 

developed the EASA-approved modifications which allow embodiment of the 

Spectrolab design changes on helicopters modified by Eurocopter UK STC. 

For the reasons described above, EASA AD 2010-0237 was issued, retaining 

the inspection requirements of AD 2010-0183R1, which was superseded, 

required removing the searchlight from the helicopter and allowed, for the 

affected Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH helicopters, modification of the 

searchlight installation by installing a modified searchlight assembly, having a 

higher revision standard and a new P/N Gimbal assembly. 

Since AD 2010-0237 was published, the other affected approval holders have 

developed their own modifications, which have been approved by EASA, to 

allow embodiment of the Spectrolab design change on Agusta AB139 and 

AW139 helicopters, and on Sikorsky S-92A helicopters modified by Keystone 

STC, respectively. 

Revision 1 of this AD was issued to include reference to Agusta Bollettino 

Tecnico (BT) 139-231 and Keystone Helicopter Corporation Service Bulletin 

(SB) 10-11 revision C, which provide the terminating action instructions for the 

AB139, AW139 and S-92A helicopters affected by this AD. In addition, this AD 

reduces the applicability to helicopters that have Gimbal Assembly P/N and 

Searchlight Assembly P/N as defined in Table 1 of the Applicability section of 

this AD. 

Revision 2 of this AD is issued to allow installation of a Searchlight Assembly 

with a higher Revision number than required by this AD, provided that the 

applicable (Supplemental) Type Certificate holder has certified the installation 

of a Searchlight Assembly with that Revision number. 

Effective Date: 

Revision 2: 14 December 2010 

Revision 1: 06 December 2010 

Original issue: 30 November 2010. 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless previously accomplished: 

(1) Before the next flight after 31 August 2010 [the effective date of EASA 

AD 2010-0183-E], and thereafter before the first flight of each day, 

accomplish the following actions: 

(1.1) Visually check the searchlight installation Gimbal for a gap between 

the Top Shroud rubber edging (P/N 033381) and the side covers 

(P/N 033286). The edging should be in physical contact with the 
EASA AD No.: 2010-0237R2 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/5

side covers. 

(1.2) Try to move the Searchlight laterally. No gap should appear 

between the Top Shroud rubber edging (P/N 033381) and the side 

covers (P/N 033286) and no play should be felt. 

 Appendix 1 of this AD shows the area(s) to be checked. 

(2) If, during any of the checks as required by paragraph (1) of this AD 

discrepancies are detected, before next flight, remove the searchlight 

assembly from the helicopter and contact the design (change) approval 

holder, as applicable to the installation. 

(3) Within 30 days after 30 November 2010 [the effective date of the original 

issue of this AD], irrespective of findings, remove the searchlight 

assembly from the helicopter, as applicable to the installation, or, 

(3.1) For Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH helicopters, install a P/N 

033338 Revision F Searchlight Assembly, in accordance with the 

instructions of Eurocopter UK Ltd Service Bulletin (SB) 135787-467, 

SB 1351151-472, or SB 1451167-473, as applicable to helicopter 

Model. 

(3.2) For Agusta helicopters, install a P/N 033338 Revision F Searchlight 

Assembly, in accordance with the instructions of Agusta BT 139-

231. 

(3.3) For Sikorsky helicopters, install a P/N 033338-3 Revision E 

Searchlight Assembly or a P/N 033704 Revision D Searchlight 

Assembly, as applicable to the installation, in accordance with the 

instructions of Keystone Helicopter Corporation SB 10-11 rev. C. 

(3.4) For all helicopters, installation of a Searchlight Assembly with a 

higher Revision number than those required by paragraphs (3.1), 

(3.2), or (3.3) of this AD, as applicable to type design (change), is 

allowed, provided that the applicable (Supplemental) Type 

Certificate holder has certified the installation of a Searchlight 

Assembly with that Revision number. 

(4) Modification of a helicopter as required by paragraph (3) of this AD 

constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements of 

this AD. 

(5) From the effective date of this AD: 

(5.1) Do not install a Spectrolab Nightsun XP Gimbal Assembly P/N 

033295-1 or P/N 033295-2 on any helicopter as a replacement unit. 

(5.2) Do not modify a helicopter by installing a Spectrolab Nightsun XP 

Searchlight Assembly affected by this AD, unless in compliance 

with paragraph (3.1), (3.2), (3.3) or (3.4) of this AD, as applicable to 

helicopter type. 

Ref. Publications: For EC 135 P2+ and T2+ helicopters modified by STC EASA.R.S.01532: 

Eurocopter UK Ltd SB 1351151-472, Issue A, dated 10 November 2010. 

For MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters modified by EASA STC 10028851: 

Eurocopter UK Ltd SB 1451167-473, Issue A, dated 10 November 2010. 

For EC 135 helicopters modified by UK AAN 26529 (including minor change 

MCH/A/135/787): Eurocopter UK Ltd SB 135787-467, Issue A, dated 10 

November 2010. 

Agusta BT 139-231 dated 18 November 2010. 

Keystone Helicopter SB 10-11 revision C dated 22 October 2010. 

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. 
EASA AD No.: 2010-0237R2 

EASA Form 110 Page 4/5

2. The required actions and the risk allowance have granted the issuance of 

a Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public 

consultation process after publication. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness 

Directives, Safety Management & Research Section, Certification 

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

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

this AD, please contact, as applicable: 

Agusta S.p.A. Customer Support – Via del Gregge 100, 

21015 Lonate Pozzolo (VA) – Italy 

Telephone: + 39 0331 664873; Fax: + 39 0331 664680; 

E-mail: aw139.mbx@agustawestland.com. 

Eurocopter UK Limited, Oxford Airport, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1QZ, 

United Kingdom, Telephone +44 1865 852 400, Fax: +44 1865 842 827, 

E-mail: Airworthiness.Office@eurocopter.co.uk. 

Keystone Helicopter Corporation, 110 East Stewart Huston Drive, 

Coatesville, Pennsylvania 19320, United States of America, 

Telephone +1 610 644 4545, Fax: +1 610 883 4411, 

E-mail jim.scanish@keystonehelicopter.com. 

Spectrolab, Inc., 12500 Gladstone Avenue, Sylmar, California 91342, 

United States of America, telephone: +1 818 365-4611, 

Fax: +1 818 361-5102, E-mail customerservice@spectrolab.com or 

illumination@spectrolab.com. Website http://www.spectrolab.com/. 
EASA AD No.: 2010-0237R2 

EASA Form 110 Page 5/5

Appendix 1 – Photo showing location to be checked 

Verify that rubber edging is in 

contact with the side covers 

Apply pressure on the side 

covers to check for any sideto-side motion