AD 2021-05-04 Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters

This AD becomes effective April 16, 2021.

(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of: Kristin Bradley, Aerospace Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5110; email 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD No. 2018-0149-E, dated July 13, 2018. You may view the EASA AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2020-1139.

(1) For all helicopters, except Model A109S having S/N 22705 or S/N 22706 and Model AW109SP having S/N 22384, before further flight: (i) Install a placard with the information in Figure 5 of Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) No. 109S-079 (EASB 109S-079), or Leonardo Helicopters EASB No. 109SP-120 (EASB 109SP-120), each Revision A, and each dated June 4, 2018, as applicable to your helicopter model, in the baggage compartment on the internal side of the baggage door D8. (ii) Revise the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter by cutting along the dashed line of Figure 6 of EASB 109S-079 or EASB 109SP-120, as applicable to your model helicopter, and inserting the cutout to replace page 1-28 or 1-3, as applicable to your model helicopter, of the existing RFM for your helicopter. (2) For all helicopters, except Model A109S having S/N 22705 or S/N 22706 and Model AW109SP having S/N 22384, within 5 hours time-in-service (TIS): (i) Visually inspect the installation of the terminal lugs to determine whether the installation is consistent with Figure 2 of EASB 109SP-120 or EASB 109S-079, as applicable to your model helicopter. If the installation is not consistent with Figure 2 of EASB 109SP-120 or EASB 109S-079, as applicable to your model helicopter, restore the installation to be consistent with Figure 2 of EASB 109SP-120 or EASB 109S-079, as applicable to your model helicopter. (ii) Shim the installation of the baggage fairing assembly (fwd up) part number (P/N) 109-0344-31-101 to move it away from the circuit breaker panel, and install a silicon rubber protection over the blind rivets of the hinge in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part II, steps 3 through 8 of EASB 109S-079 or EASB 109SP-120, as applicable to your model helicopter. (3) Performing the steps as described in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD allows the RFM revision described in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD to be removed from the existing RFM for your helicopter and the placard described in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD to be removed from the helicopter. (4) For all helicopters, within 10 hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS, remove the baggage fairing assembly (fwd up) P/N 109-0344-31-101, remove the rubber protections P/N 109-0746-52-105 and P/N 109-0746-52-107, and inspect the cable assemblies routing of both circuit breaker panels for damage. For the purposes of this inspection, damage may be indicated by chafing. If there is any damage, repair or replace the cables in accordance with FAA accepted procedures and protect the cables by installing Nomex sleeve P/N EN6049-006. (5) For all helicopters, within 200 hours TIS, modify the helicopter's baggage compartment by adding the protective coverings in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Part II, steps 3 through 14 of Leonardo Helicopters EASB No. 109SP-122, dated July 5, 2018, or Leonardo Helicopters EASB No. 109S-081, dated July 5, 2018, as applicable to your model helicopter. Completion of this modification is a terminating action for the 25 hour TIS repetitive inspections of paragraph (e)(4) of this AD.

This AD defines the unsafe condition as chafing of electrical wiring. This condition could result in fire ignition and smoke in the baggage compartment and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.