AD NUMBER: 2020-03-13

PRODUCT: Leonardo S.p.A. Model AW189 helicopters.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: This AD requires inspecting the hydraulic fluid level on each tail rotor (T/R) damper and depending on the inspection results, removing the T/R damper from service and reporting information or repetitively inspecting the T/R damper.

This AD is prompted by reports of major leakage of hydraulic fluid in T/R dampers.

This condition could result in degradation of T/R damper performance; multiple leaking T/R dampers could result in T/R damage and subsequent loss control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 12, 2020. The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 27, 2020.

COST: The FAA estimates that this AD affects 4 helicopters of U.S. registry. Operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD:

• Visually inspecting the hydraulic fluid level on all four T/R dampers requires about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter per inspection cycle.
• If required, replacing a T/R damper requires about 2 work-hours and parts cost about $7,170 for an estimated cost of $7,340 per T/R damper.

Reporting information requires about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter.

FMI: AD