EASA AD No : 2008-0148 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/2 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2008-0148 

Date: 05 August 2008 

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]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

Agusta S.p.A. 

Type/Model designation(s) : 

AB139 and AW139 helicopters 

TCDS Number : EASA.R.006 

Foreign AD : Not applicable 

Supersedure : None 

ATA 53 Fuselage – Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS) Top Cable Cutter – 

Rework / Replacement 

Manufacturer(s): Agusta S.p.A. 

Applicability: 

AB139 and AW139 helicopters, all serial numbers, if equipped with Wire Strike 

Protection System Top Cable Cutter Assembly Part Number (P/N) 423-83001-1, 

which is part of WSPS P/N 4G9540F00211 and P/N 4G9540F00311. 

Note: The Agusta Bollettino Tecnico (BT) 139-126 that is the subject of this AD 

refers to certain serial number helicopters which are known to have been 

delivered with this system installed. 

Reason: 

An incident has been reported of in-flight contact between the top cable cutter 

assembly P/N 423-83001-1 and two main rotor blades. This condition, if not 

corrected, could cause damage to the rotor blades and lead to loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

As this unsafe condition is likely to occur in other helicopters of the same type 

design, this EASA AD requires the top cable cutter assembly P/N 423-83001-1 to 

be reworked, or replaced with a new unit P/N 3G9506P01431. 

Effective Date: 19 August 2008 
EASA AD No : 2008-0148 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/2 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: 

(1) Within the next 200 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, accomplish 

one of the following actions, (a), (b) or (c): 

(a) Rework the top cable cutter assembly P/N 423-83001-1 in accordance 

with the instructions of Agusta BT 139-126 

(b) Replace the top cable cutter assembly P/N 423-83001-1 with a new unit 

with P/N 3G9506P01431, in accordance with the instructions of Agusta 

BT 139-126. 

(c) Remove the WSPS Upper Installation P/N 4G9540A00111. 

 After installation of a top cable cutter assembly P/N 3G9506P01431, or a 

top cable cutter assembly P/N 423-83001-1 that has been reworked in 

accordance with the instructions of Agusta BT 139-126, the WSPS 

Upper Installation P/N 4G9540A00111 can be reinstalled. 

(2) After the accomplishment on a helicopter of the action as required by either 

paragraph (1)(a), (1)(b) or (1)(c) of this AD, as applicable, no person shall 

install a top cable cutter assembly P/N 423-83001-1 on that helicopter, 

unless it has been reworked in accordance with the instructions of Agusta 

BT 139-126. 

Ref. Publications: 

Agusta Bollettino Tecnico 139-126 dated 20 June 2008. 

The use of later approved revision 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. This AD was posted on 03 July 2008 as PAD 08-078 for consultation until 18 

July 2008. No comments were received during the consultation period. 

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 question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this 

AD, please contact: Agusta, Customer Support Engineering, 

E-mail: aw139.mbx@agustawestland.com