EASA AD No.: 2014-0073-E

TE.CAP.00111-003 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 1/3

Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.

EASA EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2014-0073-E

Date: 20 March 2014

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 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:

AGUSTAWESTLAND S.p.A.

Type/Model designation(s):

AB139 and AW139 helicopters

TCDS Number: EASA.R.006

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA 62 Main Rotor – Rotating Controls – Lower Half Scissor Spherical 

Bearing – Inspection / Replacement

Manufacturer(s): AgustaWestland S.p.A (formerly Agusta S.p.A.), AgustaWestland Philadelphia 

Corporation (formerly Agusta Aerospace Corporation).

Applicability: All AB139/AW139 helicopters, all serial numbers

Reason: Some cases of dislodging of lower half scissor spherical bearings Part Number 

(P/N) 3G6230V00654 have been reported on in-service helicopters. These 

bearings are installed on main rotor (M/R) Rotating Scissors P/N 

3G6230A00733.

As a result of the investigations accomplished by the supplier of the spherical 

bearings, it was determined that a quality issue might have affected the 

production of these bearings. 

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to loss of control of the 

helicopter.

To address this potential unsafe condition, AgustaWestland published Alert 

Bollettino Tecnico (BT) 139-368, providing inspection and replacement 

instructions.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires repetitive inspections of the 

M/R Rotating Scissors P/N 3G6230A00733 that have been manufactured or 

repaired by installing a potentially defective lower half scissor spherical 

bearing.

This AD also requires replacement of the affected spherical bearings or, as an 

alternative, replacement of the M/R Rotating Scissors with an affected bearing, 

which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by 

this AD.
EASA AD No.: 2014-0073-E

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Effective Date: 24 March 2014

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless already accomplished:

For helicopters equipped with a M/R Rotating Scissor P/N 3G6230A00733 with 

serial number(s) (S/N) listed in Table 1 of Agusta BT 139-368 and, for 

helicopters equipped with repaired M/R Rotating Scissor P/N 3G6230A00733 

on which a lower half scissor spherical bearing P/N 3G6230V00654 with S/N 

listed in Table 2 of Agusta BT 139-368 has been installed during that repair:

(1) Within 5 flight hours (FH) or 7 days, whichever occurs first after the 

effective date of this AD, and, thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 5 FH, 

inspect each affected M/R Rotating Scissor P/N 3G6230A00733 and 

accomplish an operational check for play and wear of the affected lower 

half scissor spherical bearings in accordance with the instructions of 

AgustaWestland BT 139-368.

(2) If, during any task as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, unusual play 

and/or wear is detected, before next flight, accomplish a detailed 

inspection for condition, damage and play in accordance with the 

instructions of AgustaWestland BT 139-368.

(3) If, during any detailed inspection as required by paragraph (2) of this AD, 

a play beyond the limits or wear is detected, before next flight, replace 

each affected lower half scissor spherical bearing with a serviceable part

and re-identify the S/N of the M/R Rotating Scissors P/N 3G6230A00733 

in accordance with the instructions of AgustaWestland BT 139-368.

Note 1: For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable lower half scissor spherical 

bearing P/N 3G6230V00654 is a part that has a S/N not listed in Table 2 of 

AgustaWestland BT 139-368.

(4) Unless already accomplished as required by paragraph (3) of this AD, 

within 50 FH or 30 days, whichever occurs first after the effective date of

this AD, replace each affected lower half scissor spherical bearing with a 

serviceable part and re-identify the S/N of the M/R Rotating Scissors P/N 

3G6230A00733 in accordance with the instructions of AgustaWestland BT 

139-368. 

(5) As an alternative to actions as required by paragraph (3) or (4) of this AD, 

it is allowed to replace the M/R Rotating Scissor P/N 3G6230A00733 with 

a serviceable part.

Note 2: For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable M/R Rotating Scissor P/N 

3G6230A00733 is a part having a S/N not listed in Table 1 of AgustaWestland

BT 139-368, or a part on which no lower half scissor spherical bearing P/N 

3G6230V00654 with S/N listed in Table 2 of AgustaWestland BT 139-368 is 

installed, or a part which has been corrected and re-identified in accordance 

with the instructions of AgustaWestland BT 139-368.

(5) Replacement of affected parts on a helicopter as required by paragraph 

(3) or (4) of this AD constitutes terminating action for the repetitive 

inspections as required by paragraph (1) of this AD for that helicopter.

For all helicopters:

(6) From the effective date of this AD, installation on a helicopter of M/R 

Rotating Scissor P/N 3G6230A00733 or lower half scissor spherical 

bearing P/N 3G6230V00654 is allowed, provided it is a serviceable part 

as defined in this AD.

Ref. Publications: AgustaWestland BT 139-368, original issue dated 19 March 2014.

The use of later approved revisions of this document is acceptable for

compliance with the requirements of this AD.
EASA AD No.: 2014-0073-E

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Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.

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 AgustaWestland S.p.A.,

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