Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Helicopters
Key claim: The FAA is requiring operators of specified Airbus EC135 and EC635 helicopters to discontinue an earlier tail rotor blade inspection method and adopt updated repetitive inspections and parts replacements to detect and address blade cracking.
Abstract
(Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-04-10 which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+ helicopters. AD 2024-04-10 required repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered tail rotor (T/R) blades for a crack and, depending on the results, removing any cracked T/R blade from service. AD 2024-04-10 also prohibits installing certain T/R blades on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met. Since AD 2024-04-10 was issued, it was determined that inspection Method A should be discontinued and that additional limitations shall be provided. This AD retains the actions of AD 2024-04-10 and requires repetitively inspecting a certain tail rotor blade (TRB) assembly for cracks and, depending on the results, removing any cracked TRB assembly from service and replacing an affected part as terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD also prohibits installing an affected TRB assembly on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
This final rule changes maintenance compliance requirements for operators of specified Airbus EC135 and EC635 helicopters by replacing an earlier tail rotor blade inspection method with updated repetitive inspections and parts replacements. The safety purpose is to detect and address blade cracking; the finding establishes mandatory action rather than merely a proposed inspection change.