AD 2024-01-52 Is Intended To Detect A Cracked Pilot Or Co-Pilot Cyclic Stick Base

The FAA has sent an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-01-52 is sent to owners and operators of Hélicoptères Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters.

The FAA is superseding AD 2023-24-51, Amendment 39-22627 (88 FR 86260, December 13, 2023) (AD 2023-24-51), which applied to Hélicoptères Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. AD 2023-24-51 was issued after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, issued EASA Emergency AD 2023-0204-E, dated November 20, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0204-E) and was prompted by reports of a crack in the pilot cyclic stick base. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-24-51, more cracks in the cyclic stick base have been reported, including a crack in a cyclic stick base that had accumulated only 700 hours time-in-service (TIS); therefore, EASA issued EASA Emergency AD 2024-0007-E, dated January 8, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0007-E), to supersede EASA AD 2023-0204-E and correct an unsafe condition on Hélicoptères Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. 

EASA AD 2024-0007-E states that the service bulletin related to the unsafe condition lowers the threshold for the initial inspection of the pilot and co-pilot cyclic stick bases. Accordingly, EASA AD 2024-0007-E continues to require repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered pilot and co-pilot cyclic stick bases and, depending on the results, corrective action, but requires the initial inspection at a lower threshold. EASA AD 2024-0007-E also prohibits installing those pilot and co-pilot cyclic stick bases unless its requirements are met.

This emergency AD is intended to detect a cracked pilot or co-pilot cyclic stick base. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the pilot or co-pilot cyclic stick base and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FMI: www.regulations.gov