AD 2021-16-06 Prompted By The Determination That Additional Parts May Be Susceptible To The Unsafe Condition

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-19-11 for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters.

AD 2020-19-11 required repetitive borescope inspections of the 90-degree tail rotor gearbox (TGB) and depending on the inspection results, removing the TGB from service. This AD was prompted by the determination that additional parts may be susceptible to the unsafe condition. This AD retains the inspection requirements of AD 2020-19-11, and revises the compliance time and applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective September 27, 2021.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2020-19-11, Amendment 39-21254 (85 FR 59404, September 22, 2020) (AD 2020-19-11). AD 2020-19-11 applied to Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters with TGB part number (P/N) 109-0440-06-101 or P/N 109-0440-06-105 having serial number (S/N) 167, 169 through 172 inclusive, 215 through 225 inclusive, 227, 230, 232, 233, AW268, K3, K16, M47, or L29, installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2021 (86 FR 27538). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to retain certain requirements of AD 2020-19-11, revise the compliance time for the repetitive inspections from intervals not to exceed 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 6 months to only intervals not to exceed 6 months, and revise the applicability paragraph by adding certain serial-numbered TGB shafts. The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2020-0206, dated September 30, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0206), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, formerly Finmeccanica S.p.A., AgustaWestland S.p.A., Agusta S.p.A.; and AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation, formerly Agusta Aerospace Corporation. EASA advises that additional parts may be susceptible to similar occurrences and some TGB shafts could have been reinstalled on a TGB other than the one on which they were initially installed. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the tail rotor, possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter.

Accordingly, EASA AD 2020-0206 retains the inspection requirements of EASA AD 2018-0156, dated July 24, 2018, which prompted AD 2020-19-11, for certain part-numbered TGB shafts and revises the definition of an affected part by adding certain serial-numbered TGB shafts.

FMI: www.regulations.gov