Parts Catalog Improperly Identifies Approved Swashplate Support

The FAA has issued an emergency AD prompted by an error in a parts catalog that incorrectly identifies swashplate support (support) part number (P/N) 109-0110-05-101 as approved for installation on Model AW109SP helicopters. Support P/N 109-0110-05-101 is made of aluminum alloy and is approved for installation on Model A109A, A109A II, A109C, A109E, A109K2, A109S, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters, but is not approved for installation on Model AW109SP helicopters.

The approved support for Model AW109SP helicopters is made of steel. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the support and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. As a result, this emergency AD requires removing the supports from service.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2018-0053-E, dated March 8, 2018, to correct an unsafe condition for Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters (previously Agusta S.p.A.) Model AW109SP helicopters. The EASA AD advises that support P/N 109-0110-05-101, which is not eligible for installation on Model AW109SP helicopters, was erroneously listed in the Model AW109SP parts catalog. EASA states that this may have led to inadvertent installations of the support in service on a Model AW109SP helicopter. The EASA AD requires replacing the support and re-identifying the P/N on the identification plate of the spherical sleeve assembly (sleeve) if the P/N is not P/N 109-0134-02-105. Sleeve P/N 109-0134-02-105 is composed of the steel support. The EASA AD also prohibits installing the support on any Model AW109SP helicopter. EASA states that its AD actions are intended to prevent failure of the support, which could result in loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is in the process of updating Agusta S.p.A.’s name change to Leonardo S.p.A. on its FAA type certificate. Because this name change is not yet effective, this emergency AD specifies Agusta S.p.A. as the type certificate holder.

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with Italy, EASA, its technical representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the EASA AD. We are issuing this emergency AD because we evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.

(Source: FAA. Image from file)

FMI: Emergency AD