EASA AD No.: 2015

- 0094

TE. CAP.00110

- 00 4 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 1 / 3 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA

- Internet/Intranet. 

## EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No

. : 2015 - 0094

Date: 2 9 May 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 E U 748/2012 , Part 21

. A.3B. In accordance with E U 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 ope rate 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 350, AS 355 and EC 130 helicopters
TCDS Number s : EASA.R.008 and EASA.R.146
F oreign AD: Not applicable Supersedure: None



### ATA 63 Main Rotor Drive

– Cross - B ar – Inspection

Manufacturer(s): Airbus Helicopters, (formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, Aerospatiale)
Applicability: AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3 and D helicopters, and

AS 355 E, F, F1, F2, N and NP helicopters, and EC130 B4 and T2 helicopters, all serial numbers

. Reason: Two occurrences were reported of finding cracks in the bi

- directional suspension

cross - bar (i.e. crossbeam) on AS350 B3 helicopters . The cracks were detected, during a maintenance check, at the attachment holes of the transmission deck attachment fittings. In both cases, the helicopters were equip ped with a cargo hook and had completed missions with a significant number of to rque cycles (TC ) , ( see Note )

. Because of common design features, such cracks may potentially also occur on other AS350, AS355 and EC 130 helicopter models. Crack growth may lea d to failure of one of the four y okes and significantly increase d stress load on the remaining yokes

. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to cracks developing in the remaining yokes and increased loading of the cross

- bar , possibly resulting in cross - bar failure and consequent loss of the helicopter. To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus Helicopters (AH) issued four Alert Service Bulletins (ASB) AS350

- 05.00.84 , ASB AS355

- 05.00.73 , ASB EC130

- 05A021 and ASB EC130

- 05A022 to provide instructions for periodic inspections of the cross

- bar on affected helicopters. For the reason described above, this AD requires repetitive inspections of the bi

directional suspension cross

- bar and, depending on findings, replacement of the cross - bar with a serviceable one

.EASA AD No.: 2015

- 0094

TE. CAP.00110

- 00 4 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 2 / 3 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA

- Internet/Intranet. The instructions contained in these ASBs will be incorporated in the Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) of the respective rotorcraft as part of the next revision.
Effect ive Date: 1 2 June 2015 Required A ction(s) and Compliance Time(s) : Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: (1) During the next scheduled m ain g earbox removal after the effective date of this AD, and , thereafter , at intervals not to exceed the values specified in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable to helicopter model, i nspect each bi

- directional suspension cross

- bar Part Number (P/N) 350A38

- 1040

- 20 or P/N 350A38

- 1040

- 00 , as applicable, in accordance with the instructions of parag raph 3.B of AH ASB AS350

- 05.00.84 , or ASB AS355

- 05.00.73 , or ASB EC13 0

- 05A021 , or ASB EC130

- 05A022 , as applicable.
Table 1

– I nspection of B i

- Directional S uspension C ross - B ar

Helicopter Model(s) Interval (flight hours (FH) or TC, whichever occurs first) AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, D 4 500 FH or 60 000 TC

AS 350 B3 3 300 FH or 60 000 TC AS 355 (all models) EC130 B4 EC130 T2 3 300 FH or 40 000 TC

Note: The definition of TC can be found in paragraph 1.E.2 of the applicable AH ASB. (2) If , during any inspection as required by paragraph ( 1 ) of this AD, a crack is detected, before next flight, replace the bi

- directional suspension cross

- bar with a serviceable one in accordance with paragraph 3.B of AH ASB AS350

- 05.00.84 , or ASB AS355

- 05.00.73 , or ASB EC13 0

- 05A021 , or ASB EC130

- 05A022 , as applicable. (3) Repla cement of the bi

- directional suspension cross

- bar on a helicopter as required by paragraph (2) of this AD does not constitute terminating action for the repetitive inspections as required by paragraph (1) of this AD for that helicopter.
Ref. Public ations: AH ASB AS350

- 05.00.84 original issue dated 21 May 2015.

AH ASB AS355

- 05.00.73 original issue dated 21 May 2015. AH ASB EC130

- 05A021 original issue dated 21 May 2015. AH ASB EC130

- 05A022 original issue dated 21 May 2015. The u se of later approved revisions of these document s 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. The result 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, Certification Directorate , EASA. E

- mail : ADs@easa.europa.eu

.EASA AD No.: 2015

- 0094

TE. CAP.00110

- 00 4 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 3 / 3 Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA

- Internet/Intranet. 4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this AD, please contact: Airbus Helicopters (ESBESB)

– Aeroport de Marseille Provence, 1375 Marignane Cedex, France Telephone: +33 (4) 12 85 97 97; Fax : +33 (4) 85 99 66 E

- mail: directive.technical

- support@airbus.com