Maintenance and Modifications
New Airworthiness Directive Proposed for Airbus Helicopters
Revised AD adds repetitive visual inspection to current inspections for certain tail rotor pitch horn assemblies.

The FAA has issued an NPRM to supersede airworthiness directive 2013-21-01, which currently applies to the Airbus Helicopters AS350B/BA/B1/B2/B3/C/D/D1 and AS355E/F/F1/F2/N/NP. The current AD requires certain inspections of each tail-rotor pitch horn assembly for a crack and, if there is a crack, replacing the pitch horn with an airworthy pitch horn before further flight. It also requires a one-time visual inspection for pitch horns above certain hours time-in-service (TIS). This NPRM would retain those requirements and add a repetitive visual inspection for all pitch horns regardless of hours TIS. The FAA is accepting comments until August 8.