AD 2021-08-02 Requires The Replacement Of Certain Critical Parts

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran) Arriel 2D and Arriel 2E model turboshaft engines.

This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the maintenance and overhaul manuals to introduce new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks. This AD requires the replacement of certain critical parts before reaching their published in-service life limits, performing scheduled maintenance tasks before reaching their published periodicity, and performing unscheduled maintenance tasks when the engine meets certain conditions. As a terminating action, this AD requires operators to revise the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of their existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by incorporating the revised airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective June 21, 2021.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Safran Arriel 2D and Arriel 2E model turboshaft engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 30, 2020 (85 FR 76492). The NPRM was prompted by the manufacturer revising the maintenance and overhaul manuals to introduce new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require the replacement of certain critical parts before reaching their published in-service life limits, performing scheduled maintenance tasks before reaching their published periodicity, and performing unscheduled maintenance tasks when the engine meets certain conditions specified in the applicable Safran Arriel maintenance manual (MM) chapter. As a terminating action, the NPRM proposed to require operators to revise the ALS of their existing approved AMP by incorporating the revised airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA AD 2018-0273, dated December 13, 2018 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The MCAI states:

• The airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks for the SAFRAN ARRIEL 2D, ARRIEL 2E and ARRIEL 2N engines, which are approved by EASA, are currently defined and published in the SAFRAN ARRIEL 2 Maintenance and Overhaul Manuals, as applicable. These instructions have been identified as mandatory for continued airworthiness.
• Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an unsafe condition.
• SAFRAN recently revised the applicable Maintenance and Overhaul Manuals (the applicable ALS), introducing new and/or more restrictive airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks.
• For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires accomplishment of the actions specified in the applicable ALS.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1038.

FMI: www.regulations.gov