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June 24, 2022

AD: Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters

AD 2022-11-20 Prompted By A Large Crack Detected On The Tail Gearbox (TGB) Fitting During A Scheduled Inspection

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a large crack detected on the tail gearbox (TGB) fitting during a scheduled inspection and the determination that certain TGB fittings are required to be inspected by the use of a borescope. This AD requires a one-time borescope inspection of certain part-numbered TGB fittings, and depending on the inspection results, removing the affected part from service and replacing with an airworthy part, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (I

Green, The Color of Money

An Airbus H225 has performed the word’s first helicopter flight powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The flight, which saw both the H225’s Safran Makila 2 engines powered by SAF, follows a November 2021 undertaking in which an H225 flew with one of its Makila 2 engines operating on SAF and the other on conventional jet fuel. The flights are part of an ongoing campaign to understand the impact of SAF use on aircraft gas-turbine systems. Testing is expected to continue on various helicopter types with different fuel and engine architectures with the aim of certifying the use of 100% SAF by 2030.

eVTOL Flight Testing Proceeding to Plan

Archer Aviation, the San Jose, CA-based designer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, reports flight-tests of its Maker demonstrator aircraft are proceeding apace. Most recently, the test program saw the first use of the company’s Tilt Propeller System (TPS), which actively controls Maker in hover. The system, which facilitates transition from hover to wing-borne flight, comprises a series of independent actuators, sensors, and software that articulates the vehicle’s forward six propellers relative its single, high-mounted wing.