FAA proposes checks for mislabeled Airbus helicopter tail rotor parts
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This proposal would require operators of certain Airbus AS355 helicopters to check whether specific tail rotor drive fan wheels and second-stage impellers were correctly identified in production records. If records and parts do not match, operators would need to inspect the parts with a borescope and either replace or re-identify them. The rule is aimed at preventing unsafe maintenance or installation decisions caused by mislabeled parts. Airbus helicopter owners, operators, maintenance providers, and parts suppliers should review affected serial numbers and prepare for possible inspections, log card updates, and installation restrictions if the rule is finalized.
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Key Changes
- Requires serial number checks and log card updates for affected tail rotor drive fan wheels and impeller second stages
- Requires a one-time borescope inspection when records and parts may not match
- Would require replacement or re-identification of certain parts and ban installation of specified affected parts
Obligations
What this law requires
Submit any comments on the proposed airworthiness directive to the FAA by the stated NPRM comment deadline if seeking to participate in the rulemaking.
For affected Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters, verify the serial number of affected tail rotor drive fan wheels and impeller second-stage parts against production or log-card records if the proposed AD is finalized.
Amend the log cards for affected tail rotor drive fan wheels and impeller second-stage parts where required by the proposed AD.
Perform a one-time borescope inspection of affected parts when serial-number or log-card verification shows a potential mismatch between records and installed parts.
Replace affected tail rotor drive fan wheels or impeller second-stage parts when inspection results require replacement under the proposed AD.