EASA AD No.: 2012-0205

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2012-0205

Date: 01 October 2012 

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 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): 

AS 350 and AS 355 helicopters 

TCDS Number: EASA.R.008, EASA.R.146 

Foreign AD: Not applicable 

Supersedure: None 

ATA 52 Doors – Sliding Door Lower Ball-joint – Modification 

Manufacturer(s): Eurocopter (formerly Eurocopter France, Aerospatiale) 

Applicability: AS 350 B, AS 350 BA, AS 350 BB, AS 350 B1, AS 350 B2, AS 350 B3 and 

AS 350 D helicopters, all serial numbers (s/n), and AS 355 E, AS 355 F, 

AS 355 F1, AS 355 F2, AS 355 N and AS 355 NP helicopters, all s/n, if 

equipped with sliding doors, except those that embody modification AL. 4262. 

Reason: During a patrol flight with the sliding doors open, the right-hand (RH) sliding 

door became detached and was lost in flight without hitting the helicopter. Upon 

return from the mission, it was found that the nut of the ball-joint bolt was 

missing, which caused the ball-joint bolt to detach from doors and the RH 

sliding door to fall off. When checking the left-hand (LH) sliding door, it was 

found that the nut of the ball-joint bolt was not tightened and could be 

unscrewed by hand. The self-locking characteristics of the nut of the ball-joint 

bolt were lost. The same condition, probably due to a defective assembly 

consisting in reuse of disposable parts and/or improper nut tightening, is 

assumed to be the reason of ball-joint bolt attachment failure in the RH sliding 

door. 

Lack of protection against unscrewing of the nut of the ball-joint bolt, if not 

corrected, could lead to the loss of the door in flight potentially resulting in 

damage of the surrounding rotorcraft structures and/or injuries to persons on 

the ground. 

For the reasons described above, in order to improve the nut protection against 

unscrewing, by adding a non-friction locking device, this AD requires 

embodiment of modification AL. 4262 which consists in replacement of the nut 

and the washer of the lower ball-joint bolt with a new nut and lock-washer. 
EASA AD No.: 2012-0205

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.

Effective Date: 15 October 2012 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

Within 165 flight hours or 13 months, whichever occurs first after the effective 

date of this AD, replace the lower ball-joint nut and washer of each sliding door 

with a new nut and lock-washer (modification AL. 4262) in accordance with the 

instructions of paragraph 3.B.2 of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 

AS350-52.00.34, or ASB AS355-52.00.26, as applicable to helicopter model. 

Ref. Publications: Eurocopter ASB AS350-52.00.34 dated 09 July 2012. 

Eurocopter ASB AS355-52.00.26 dated 09 July 2012. 

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. 

2. This AD was posted on 25 July 2012 as PAD 12-088 for consultation until 

22 August 2012. No comments were received during the consultation 

period. 

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.