AD 2022-14-03 Prompted By Reports Of Cracked Tailboom Attachment Bolts And Barrel Nuts

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB412 and AB412 EP helicopters.

This AD was prompted by reports of cracked tailboom attachment bolts and barrel nuts. This AD requires replacing the upper left hand (LH) tailboom attachment bolt, visually inspecting the other three tailboom attachment bolts and all barrel nuts, repetitive torque checks of the tailboom attachment bolts, and corrective action if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD becomes effective July 28, 2022. 

Supplementary Information: EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0046, dated March 17, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0046), to correct an unsafe condition for all serial-numbered Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB212, AB412, and AB412EP helicopters.  This AD was prompted by reports of cracked tailboom attachment bolts and barrel nuts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the fatigue cracking of tailboom attachment bolts. See EASA AD 2022-0046 for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov