AD 2013-10-51 Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

This AD becomes effective July 31, 2013 to all persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD No. 2013-10-51, issued on May 9, 2013, which contains the requirements of this AD.

Special flight permits may be permitted only for taking a helicopter to a repair station to meet the requirements of this AD.

(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Hemann, Transportation Safety Analyst, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email michael.hemann@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.

(1) Before further flight, inspect the single hydraulic main and tail servo-control's (servo-control) component history card or equivalent record to determine if it has a part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) listed in the Appendix, paragraph 4.A, of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 67.00.60 (EASB No. 67.00.60) or No. 67.00.41 (EASB No. 67.00.41), both dated April 15, 2013, as appropriate for your model helicopter; or was repaired or overhauled from September 27, 2012, through January 30, 2013, by UTC Aerospace Systems or Goodrich Corporation in Monroe, North Carolina. (2) If the servo-control does have a P/N and S/N listed in paragraph 4.A of EASB No. 67.00.60 or EASB No. 67.00.41, as appropriate for your model helicopter, or if the servo-control was repaired or installed from September 27, 2012, through January 30, 2013, by UTC Aerospace Systems or Goodrich Corporation in Monroe, North Carolina, inspect the servo-control to determine whether the identification plate is marked with a “B” as shown in the Appendix, paragraph 4.B, of EASB No. 67.00.60 or EASB No. 67.00.41, as appropriate for your model helicopter. If it is marked with a “B,” no further action is required. (3) If the identification plate is not marked with a “B,” inspect all sides of the external race of the servo-control's bearing to determine if it has any marking shown as (b) in Detail A of Figure 1 of EASB No. 67.00.60 or EASB No. 67.00.41, as appropriate for your model helicopter. If there is any marking, before further flight, replace the servo-control with an airworthy servo-control. (4) If there is no marking on the sides of the external race, inspect each bearing sealing flange to determine if it is marked with “RWG Germany 60-5593” as shown as (d) in Detail C of Figure 2 of EASB No. 67.00.60 or EASB No. 67.00.41, as appropriate for your model helicopter. If there is “RWG Germany 60-5593” marking at least partially visible on a flange of the bearing, no further action is required. (5) If there is no “RWG Germany 60-5593” marking at least partially visible on a flange of the bearing, before further flight, replace the servo-control with an airworthy servo-control.

This AD defines the unsafe condition as excessive play that could cause the distributor slide valve to jam in its sleeve. This condition could result in jamming of the hydraulic flight controls, necessitating that the pilot cut off hydraulic power. This action would increase the pilot's workload, resulting in possible loss of helicopter control.