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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2006 - 0100 

Date: 24 April 2006

No person may operate an aircraft to which an Airworthiness Directive applies, except in accordance with the 

requirements of that Airworthiness Directive unless otherwise agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry.

Type Approval Holder’s Name: 

EUROCOPTER 

Type/Model designation(s): 

AS 355 

TCDS Number: France 168 

Foreign AD: None. 

Supersedure: DGAC AD F-2005-082 (EASA Approval No. 2005-4319) 

ATA 01, 65 Tail Rotor Drive - Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Forward Shaft 

Section 

Manufacturer(s): EUROCOPTER (formerly EUROCOPTER FRANCE, AEROSPATIALE) 

Applicability: AS 355 E, F, F1, F2 and N helicopters equipped with a tail rotor drive 

shaft forward section PN 355A 34-1090-00 with serial numbers from No. 

M 858 (inclusive) up to No. M 873 (inclusive). 

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) does not apply to helicopters 

delivered after January 1, 2005. 

Reason: This AD is issued following a metallurgical non-conformity that was 

discovered on a flange of the forward shaft section of the tail rotor drive 

shaft of an AS 355 helicopter. 

The stress analysis has shown that this non-conformity can significantly 

reduce the strength of this component and thereby its service life. 

This AD supersedes DGAC AD F-2005-082 and covers Revision 1 of 

EUROCOPTER AS 355 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 01.00.51 

referenced below which specifies the applicability by adding a letter “M” 

to the beginning of the serial numbers of the shafts concerned. 

Effective Date: 05 May 2006 
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Compliance: The following measures are mandatory as from May 25, 2005, the 

effective date of AD F-2005-082. 

1. Tail rotor drive shaft forward shaft sections, having logged less than 

 2,400 flying hours: 

- At the latest at 2,500 flying hours and by December 31, 2005 (the 

first limit reached is applicable), remove the forward shaft section and 

install a forward shaft section that is not covered by paragraph 

“applicability” above, in compliance with the instructions specified in 

paragraph 2.B. of referenced EUROCOPTER AS 355 ASB No. 

01.00.51 R1. 

2. Tail rotor drive shaft forward shaft sections, having logged 2,400 flying 

hours or more: 

- At the latest within 100 flying hours and by December 31, 2005 (the 

first limit reached is applicable), comply with the instructions specified 

in paragraph 2.B. of the referenced ASB. 

3. Tail rotor drive shaft forward shaft sections, held as spares: 

- These tail rotor drive shaft forward sections must be returned to the 

EUROCOPTER works at Marignane at the latest by December 31, 

2005. 

Ref. Publications: EUROCOPTER AS 355 Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.51 R1 

or later approved revisions. 

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated the responsible EASA 

manager for the related product has the authority to accept Alternative 

Method of Compliance (AMOCs) for this AD. 

2. This AD was posted as PAD 06-061 for consultation on 15 March 

2006 with a comment period until 31 March 2006. No comment was 

raised during the consultation period. 

3. Enquiries regarding this Airworthiness Directive should be referred to 

Mr. M. Capaccio, Airworthiness Directive Focal Point - Certification 

Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.eu.int

4. For any questions concerning the technical content of the 

requirements in this AD, please contact: EUROCOPTER (STXI) - 

Aéroport de Marseille Provence 13725 Marignane Cedex - 

France.Tel: 33 (0) 4 42 85 97 97 - Fax: 33 (0) 4 42 85 99 66. 

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