EASA AD No.: 2014-0048

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2014-0048

Date: 04 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

Revision: Not applicable

ATA 53 Fuselage – Subfloor Frame STA 2105 – Inspection / Modification 

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

Corporation (formerly Agusta Aerospace Corporation).

Applicability: AB139/AW139 helicopters from serial numbers (S/N) 31005 to S/N 31517 

inclusive, except S/N 31007, S/N 31415, S/N 31431, S/N 31491, S/N 31500, 

S/N 31508 and S/N 31516, and from S/N 41001 to S/N 41356 inclusive, 

except S/N 41355.

Reason: Some cases of cracks in the subfloor frame STA 2105 have been reported on 

in-service helicopters.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a failure of the 

pedals supporting frame, leading to pedals being inoperative and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter.

To address this potential unsafe condition, AgustaWestland published 

Bollettino Tecnico (BT) 139-311, providing inspection and modification 

instructions.

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

subfloor frame STA 2105 and, depending on findings, accomplishment of the 

applicable corrective actions. This AD also requires a modification, which 

constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by this AD.

Effective Date: 18 March 2014
EASA AD No.: 2014-0048

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Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless already accomplished:

(1) Within 30 flight hours (FH) or 2 months, whichever occurs first after the 

effective date of this AD, and, thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 300 

FH or 6 months, whichever occurs first since the accomplishment of the 

previous inspection, inspect the subfloor frames at STA 2105 in 

accordance with the instructions of AgustaWestland BT 139-311.

(2) If, during any inspection as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, cracks 

are detected, before next flight, modify the helicopter (reinforcement of 

subfloor frames at STA 2105) in accordance with the instructions of 

AgustaWestland BT 139-311.

(3) Unless already accomplished as required by paragraph (2) of this AD, 

within 1 200 FH after the effective date of this AD, modify the helicopter 

(reinforcement of subfloor frames at STA 2105) in accordance with the 

instructions of AgustaWestland BT 139-311.

(4) Modification of a helicopter as required by paragraph (2) or (3) of this 

AD, as applicable, constitutes terminating action for the repetitive 

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

Ref. Publications: AgustaWestland BT 139-311, original issue dated 21 February 2014.

The use of later approved revisions 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. The required action and the risk allowance have granted the issuance of a 

Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public consultation 

process after publication.

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 Agusta S.p.A. 

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