AD NUMBER: 2019-16-16

PRODUCT: Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, and AS350BA helicopters with a certain part-numbered Pall Aerospace Corporation Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) element installed.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-18-12 for the aircraft listed above.

AD 2018-18-12 required revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement (RFMS) for your helicopter to prohibit operating a helicopter with an IBF element in wet weather and drying or replacing the IBF element if wet.

This AD retains the requirements of AD 2018-18-12 but no longer allows reinstallation of a filter after it has been removed. This AD also expands the applicability, provides an optional terminating action for the RFMS revision for your helicopter, and prohibits installing the affected IBFs on any helicopter.

This AD was prompted by further review of the unsafe condition and the determination that additional part-numbered IBF elements are affected by the unsafe condition.

DATES: This AD is effective September 26, 2019. Comments must be received by October 28, 2019.

COST: The FAA estimates that this AD affects 81 helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD:

Revising the RFMS for your helicopter takes about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and $6,885 for the U.S. fleet. Removing the IBF element takes about 2 work-hours and parts cost about $3,995 for an estimated cost of $4,165 per helicopter.

FMI: AD