AD 2014-02-05 Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Helicopters

This AD becomes effective March 7, 2014.

(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5110; email robert.grant@faa.gov . (2) For operations conducted under 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) Eurocopter Service Bulletin (SB) No. 67.00.21, Revision 1, dated June 21, 2006, and SB No. 67.00.37, Revision 2, dated December 2, 2008, which are not incorporated by reference, contain additional information about the subject of this AD. For service information identified in this AD, contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2009-0019, dated February 3, 2009. You may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2013-0679.

(1) For helicopters with MOD 073237 installed, within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS): (i) With the collective (item b) in the low position but not locked on the locking strip (item a), measure the distance between the end of the locking stud (item c) and the locking strip as indicated by dimension “J” in Figure 2 of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.58, Revision 0, dated January 12, 2008 (EASB 05.00.58). (ii) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is equal to or more than 3 millimeters (mm), no further action is required. (iii) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is less than 3 mm and MOD 073175 is not installed, inspect to determine whether the grommet in the locking strip is seated against the console as shown in Figure 2 of EASB 05.00.58. (A) If the grommet is not seated against the console, restore the original profile of the locking strip by doing the following: ( 1 ) Clamp the locking strip in a vice with soft jaws and apply load progressively to the locking strip to restore the original profile of the locking strip. ( 2 ) With the collective in the low position but not locked on the locking strip, measure the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip as indicated by dimension “J” in Figure 2 of EASB 05.00.58. ( 3 ) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is equal to or more than 3 mm, no further action is required. ( 4 ) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is less than 3 mm, adjust the length of the locking stud and re-identify the locking stud by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2.c., of EASB 05.00.58, except you are not required to comply with paragraph 2.B.4 of EASB 05.00.58. (B) If the grommet is seated against the console, adjust the length of the locking stud and re-identify the locking stud by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2.c, of EASB 05.00.58, except you are not required to comply with paragraph 2.B.4 of EASB 05.00.58. (iv) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is less than 3 mm and MOD 073175 is installed, adjust the length of the locking stud and re-identify the locking stud by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2.c., of EASB 05.00.58, except you are not required to comply with paragraph 2.B.4 of EASB 05.00.58. (v) After adjusting the length of the locking stud in accordance with paragraph 2.B.2.c of the EASB, determine whether the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is equal to or more than 3 mm. (A) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is equal to or more than 3 mm, no further action is required. (B) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is less than 3 mm, do not approve the helicopter for return to service until the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is equal to or more than 3 mm. (2) For helicopters without MOD 073237 installed, within 100 hours TIS: (i) With the collective in the low position but not locked on the locking strip, measure the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip as indicated by dimension “J' in Figure 2 of EASB 05.00.58. (ii) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is equal to or more than 3 mm, no further action is needed. (iii) If the distance between the end of the locking stud and the locking strip is less than 3 mm and MOD 073175 is not installed, inspect to determine whether the grommet in the locking strip is seated against the console as shown in Figure 2 of EASB 05.00.58. (A) If the grommet is not seated against the console, restore the original profile of the locking strip by doing the following: ( 1 ) Clamp the locking strip in a vice with soft jaws and apply load progressively to the loc

This AD defines the unsafe condition as the main rotor collective pitch lever (collective) locking stud (locking stud) inadvertently locking in the low pitch (low) position, which could result in subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.