AD NUMBER: 2017-12-04

PRODUCT: Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters.

ACTION: Final Rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2016-20-04 for the aircraft listed above.

AD 2016-20-04 prohibited autorotation training flights until the landing gear rear crosstube (crosstube) was inspected.

This new AD adds additional partnumbered crosstubes to the applicability and revises the hardness criteria for the inspection.

This AD is prompted by a determination that an additional part-numbered crosstube may have the same unsafe condition. AD 2016-20-04 was prompted by Emergency AD No. 2016-0073-E, dated April 13, 2016 (AD 2016-0073-E), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters with a crosstube P/N 341A415201.00 or P/N 341A415201.01.

EASA stated that two reported failures of a crosstube had occurred during maintenance and towing operations, which resulted in the helicopters dropping or tipping over. EASA further stated that excessive hardness of the crosstube material, combined with inter-granular corrosion initiation, may have affected the structural integrity of the crosstube.

EASA advised that this condition could lead to failure of the crosstube and dropping or tipping over of the helicopter. To address the unsafe condition, EASA AD 2016-0073-E required identifying the affected crosstubes, implementing a temporary prohibition of autorotation training flights on affected helicopters by amending the RFM and installing a placard, inspecting the hardness of each affected crosstube, and replacing any crosstubes that do not meet the hardness criteria.

The actions of this AD are intended to detect and prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 27, 2017. Comments must be received by August 11, 2017.

FMI: AD