Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

FAA / Federal Register · 2023-28720

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-27- 09, which applied to certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC130T2 helicopters. AD 2022-27-09 required repetitively inspecting the vibration level on the tail rotor drive shaft and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. AD 2022-27-09 also required reporting information and prohibited installing certain rotor drive shafts unless the inspection was done. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-27- 09, Airbus Helicopters revised its service information to update the procedures for inspecting that vibration level, reduce an allowable vibration level, and clarify when a balance correction may be accomplished. This AD was prompted by the determination that a certain vibration measurement tool was providing unexpected results and therefore the threshold must be revised. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2022-27-09 and also revises the procedures for inspecting the vibration level on the tail rotor drive shaft and depending on these results, requires replacing certain parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.