Accidents
EASA Grounds Airbus AS332 L2/EC225 LP Fleet
Investigators have found a fatigue failure in the main gearbox of the H225 (EC225 LP) that crashed near Bergen, Norway, in April.

The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) on June 2 to ground the fleet of Airbus Helicopters AS332 L2 Super Puma and EC225 LP (H225) models, after more evidence of a potential unsafe condition in the main rotor assembly was discovered. This follows an April 29 crash of an EC225 LP near Bergen, Norway.

Feedback received after an AD requiring inspections revealed issues with the suspension bars, which are also known as lift struts. Some tightening torque values on the attachment bolts of the fittings were found to be out of tolerance. Some washers were incorrectly positioned in the fitting assemblies. Those components are involved in scheduled maintenance, Airbus confirmed.