AD 2012-22-06 Airworthiness Directives; Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., High Landing Gear Forward Crosstube Assembly

This AD becomes effective December 14, 2012.

(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5170; email 7-avs-asw-170@faa.gov. (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office or certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC.

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3213: Main Landing Gear Strut/Axle/Truck.

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD: (i) Create a component history card or equivalent record for the crosstube by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part A, paragraph 1., of AAI Alert Service Bulletin No. AA-08055, Revision B, dated August 12, 2009 (ASB). (ii) Determine and record on the component history card or equivalent record the total number of landings for the crosstube. If the landing information is unavailable, estimate the number by multiplying the airframe hours TIS by 10. Continue to count and record the number of landings for the crosstube. For the purposes of this AD, a landing would be counted anytime the helicopter lifts off into the air and then lands again with any further reduction of the collective after the landing gear touches the ground. (2) Within 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD or before reaching a total of 7,500 landings on any crosstube, whichever occurs later: (i) Prepare the crosstube inspection areas as described in the Accomplishment Instructions, Part B, paragraphs 1. through 5. and Figure 1, of the ASB. (ii) Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass and a bright light, visually inspect the prepared areas of the crosstube for a crack. If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the crosstube with an airworthy crosstube. (iii) If there is no crack, following the inspection, prime and paint the inspection areas by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part B, paragraphs 7. and 8., of the ASB. If there is any corrosion or other damage, perform the replacement or repair required in paragraph (e)(5)(iv) of this AD before priming and painting the inspection areas. (3) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 200 landings, clean the crosstube inspection areas by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part C, paragraph 1., of the ASB. Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass and a bright light, visually inspect the clear-coated areas of the crosstube for a crack. If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the crosstube with an airworthy crosstube. (4) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD or before reaching a total of 10,000 landings on any crosstube, whichever occurs later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,500 landings or 12 months, whichever occurs first, determine the horizontal deflection of the crosstube from the centerline of the helicopter (BL 0.0) to the outside of the skid tubes by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part D, paragraphs 1. and 2., of the ASB. If the crosstube measures outside any of the limits depicted in Figure 2 of the ASB, before further flight, replace the crosstube with an airworthy crosstube. (5) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD or before reaching a total of 12,500 landings on any crosstube, whichever occurs later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 5,000 landings: (i) Remove and disassemble the landing gear assembly and crosstube to prepare for a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part E.1, paragraphs 1. through 6., of the ASB. (ii) Clean and prepare the crosstube by removing the sealant and paint as described in the Accomplishment Instructions, Part E.2, paragraphs 1. through 3. and Figure 3, of the ASB. (iii) Perform an FPI of the crosstube in the areas depicted in Figure 3 of the ASB for a crack, any corrosion, a nick, scratch, dent, or any other damage by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part E.3, paragraph 1., of the ASB. If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the crosstube with an airworthy crosstube. (iv) If there is any corrosion or a nick, scratch, dent, or any other damage, before further flight, repair the crosstube to an airworthy configuration if the damage is within the maximum repair damage limits or replace the crosstube with an airworthy crosstube. Chapter 3.5 Repair, Table 1. and Figure 3 of the AAI Instructions for Continued Air

This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of the landing gear crosstube, which could result in collapse of the landing gear and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.