EASA AD No.: 2015-0048 

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2015-0048 

Date: 17 March 2015 

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 EU 1321/2014 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 [EU 

1321/2014 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): 

AS 365 N3 and EC 155 helicopters

TCDS Number: EASA.R.105 

Foreign AD: Not applicable 

Supersedure: None 

ATA 25 Equipment / Furnishing – External Life Raft – Modification 

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

Applicability: AS 365 N3, EC 155 B and EC 155 B1 helicopters, all manufacturer serial 

numbers, if equipped with Aérazur SR10 external life rafts with the following 

Manufacturer Part Number (MP/N): 

- MP/N 245431-0 (life rafts fitted with metal cylinder and without beacon 

installation provisions), or 

- MP/N 245431-1 (life rafts fitted with carbon cylinder and without beacon 

installation provisions), or 

- MP/N 245434-0 (life rafts fitted with metal cylinder and with beacon 

installation provisions), or 

- MP/N 245434-1 (life rafts fitted with carbon cylinder and with beacon 

installation provisions), 

except helicopters modified in accordance with Airbus Helicopters modification 

(mod) 365A084711.00 or mod 365A084711.01. 

Reason: Airbus Helicopters reported that, after the installation of a new life raft on a 

helicopter, the travel of the life raft deployment control could not be properly 

adjusted. Technical analysis revealed that the varying position of the life raft 

inflation cylinder inside the bag containing the life raft, as well as the varying 

position of this bag within the life raft container, may induce a loosening of the 

life raft deployment control cable and subsequent insufficient travel of the 

deployment control. 
EASA AD No.: 2015-0048 

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This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of deployment of the 

external life raft (for example after a ditching), impeding or preventing safe 

evacuation of the occupants from the helicopter. 

To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus Helicopters developed mod 

365A084711.00 and mod 365A084711.01 to ensure effective deployment of the 

external life raft and issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AS365-25.01.45 and 

ASB EC155-25A128 providing modification instructions for in-service 

helicopters. 

For the reason described above, this AD requires modification of the life raft 

deployment control.

Effective Date: 31 March 2015 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) Within 110 flight hours (FH) after the effective date of this AD, or before 

the next flight where the helicopter is required to be equipped with a life 

raft, whichever occurs later, modify the life raft deployment control of the 

helicopter in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3.B of Airbus 

Helicopters ASB AS365-25.01.45 Revision 1 or ASB EC155-25A128 

Revision 1, as applicable to the helicopter model. 

(2) Modification of the life raft deployment control of the helicopter, before 

the effective date of this AD, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus 

Helicopters ASB AS365-25.01.45 original issue or ASB EC155-25A128 

original issue, as applicable to the helicopter model, is acceptable to 

comply with the requirements as required by paragraph (1) of this AD. 

Ref. Publications: Airbus Helicopters ASB AS365-25.01.45 original issue 29 September 2014 or 

Revision 1 dated 02 February 2015, 

Airbus Helicopters ASB EC155-25A128 original issue 29 September 2014 or 

Revision 1 dated 02 February 2015. 

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. 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, Certification 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 (EBSESB) – Aéroport de 

Marseille Provence 13725 Marignane Cedex, France; 

Telephone +33 (4) 42 85 97 97; Fax +33 (4) 42 85 99 66; 

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