EASA AD No.: 2013-0098-E

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EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2013-0098-E

Date: 24 April 2013

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 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:

EUROCOPTER

Type/Model designation(s):

EC 225 helicopters

TCDS Number: EASA.R.002

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA 76

Engine Controls – Emergency Shutdown / Fuel Shut-Off and 

General Cut-Out Control Tangential Gearboxes – Check / 

Lubrication / Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Eurocopter (formerly EUROCOPTER France)

Applicability: EC 225 LP helicopters, all serial numbers, if equipped with tangential 

gearboxes Part Number (P/N) 200181 (or Eurocopter’s P/N 704A34112012), all 

serial number.

Reason: During maintenance on a helicopter, jamming of the cockpit left-hand side (LH) 

engine emergency shutdown controls was reported, making impossible to 

operate both the LH fuel shut-off handle and the general cut-out handle.

The subsequent investigation identified that such jamming was originated in the 

LH tangential gearbox, installed after the two affected handles, and was a result 

of corrosion that had developed on the internal bearings of the tangential 

gearbox.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to failure to manually 

operate the helicopter emergency shutdown controls during emergency landing 

or fire condition.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Eurocopter issued Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) No 76A001.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires, depending on the date of 

issuance of the helicopter original Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) or the 

original export CofA, as applicable, lubrication of the two tangential gearboxes 

or operating load check of the two cockpit fuel shut-off handles and, depending 

on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions including 
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lubrication of the tangential gearboxes and replacement.

Effective Date: 26 April 2013

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

(1) For helicopters for which the original CofA or the original export CofA, as 

applicable, was issued five months or more before the effective date of this 

AD, accomplish the following actions:

(1.1) Within 15 flight hours (FH) or 7 days after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs first, check the operating load of the two 

cockpit fuel shut-off handles in accordance with the instructions of 

paragraph 3.B.1 of Eurocopter EC225 ASB No 76A001, and

(1.2) Within 6 months after the operating load check as required by 

paragraph (1.1) of this AD, lubricate the two tangential gearboxes,

and before next flight after tangential gearboxes lubrication, check 

the operating load of the associated cockpit fuel shut-off handles in 

accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of Eurocopter 

EC225 ASB No 76A001.

(2) For helicopters for which the original CofA or the original export CofA, as 

applicable, was issued less than five months before the effective date of 

this AD, accomplish either actions required by paragraph (2.1) of this AD 

or actions required by paragraphs (2.2) and (2.3) of this AD:

(2.1) Within 6 months after the date of issuance of the helicopter original 

CofA or date of issuance of the original export CofA, as applicable, 

lubricate the two tangential gearboxes, and before next flight after 

tangential gearboxe lubrication, check the operating load of the 

associated cockpit fuel shut-off handles in accordance with the 

instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of Eurocopter EC225 ASB No 

76A001.

(2.2) Within 6 months after the date of issuance of the helicopter original 

CofA or date of issuance of the original export CofA, as applicable,

check the operating load of the two cockpit fuel shut-off handles in 

accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.1 of Eurocopter 

EC225 ASB No 76A001; and

(2.3) Within 6 months after the operating load check as required by 

paragraph (2.2) of this AD, lubricate the two tangential gearboxes, 

and before next flight after tangential gearbox lubrication, check the 

operating load of the associated cockpit fuel shut-off handles in 

accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of Eurocopter 

EC225 ASB No 76A001.

(3) If, during the fuel shut-off handle operating load check as required by 

paragraph (1.1) or (2.2) of this AD, as applicable, it is determined that an

operating load is more than 3 daN, accomplish on the affected tangential 

gearbox the following actions:

(3.1) Before next flight, lubricate the affected tangential gearbox and after 

lubrication, check the operating load of the associated cockpit fuel 

shut-off handle in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 

3.B.2 of Eurocopter EC225 ASB No 76A001, and

(3.2) If, during the operating load check as required by paragraph (3.1) of 

this AD, it is determined that the fuel shut-off handle operating load

is more than 3 daN, before next flight, replace the affected tangential 

gearbox with a serviceable part, in accordance with the instructions 

of paragraph 3.B.3 of Eurocopter EC225 ASB No 76A001.

(3.3) Corrective actions accomplished in accordance with paragraphs

(3.1) and (3.2) of this AD, as applicable, terminate the requirements 
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of paragraph (1.2) or (2.3) of this AD, as applicable, for the affected 

tangential gearbox.

(4) If, during the fuel shut-off handle operating load check as required by 

paragraph (1.2) or (2.1) or (2.3) of this AD, as applicable, it is determined 

that an operating load is more than 3 daN, before next flight, replace the 

affected tangential gearbox with a serviceable part in accordance with the 

instructions of paragraph 3.B.3 of Eurocopter EC225 ASB No 76A001.

(5) From the effective date of this AD, installation of a tangential gearbox

P/N 200181 (or Eurocopter’s P/N 704A34112012) on a helicopter is 

allowed, provided it is accomplished in accordance with the instructions of 

paragraph 3.B.3.c of Eurocopter EC225 ASB No 76A001.

Ref. Publications: Eurocopter EC225 ASB No.76A001 Revision 0 dated 22 April 2013.

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. 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.