AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

CAA-AD-3-063/97R1

Supersedes CAA-AD-3-063/97

Date of issue: February 14, 2002

HELICOPTER – TAIL BOOM-TO-AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE JUNCTION ATTACHMENT SCREWS (ATA 53) – INSPECTION

Applicability: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to AS 355 helicopters, versions E, F, F1, F2 and N equipped with attachment screws P/N 22201BC060008L (N5103337287), which ensure the tail boom-to-aircraft structure junction attachment.

Effective date: March 21, 2002

Compliance : Required as indicated in DGAC AD 1997-146-054(A) R1.

Remarks:. The compliance of this AD must be recorded in Aircraft Logbook, where applicable the requirements of this AD must be integrated into Aircraft Technical Documentation. Address inquiries concerning this AD to: Civil Aviation Authority, Airworthiness Division, Ruzyne Airport, 160 08 Prague 6, Czech Republic, tel: 420 2 33320922, fax: 420 2 20562270

Ing. Pavel MATOUŠEK
Director of Airworthiness Division
CAA CZ

DGAC AD No.: 1997-146-054(A) R1

EUROCOPTER

AS 355 helicopters

Tail boom-to-aircraft structure junction attachment screws (ATA 53)

1. EFFECTIVITY:

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to AS 355 helicopters, versions E, F, F1, F2 and N equipped with attachment screws P/N 22201BC060008L (N5103337287), which ensure the tail boom-to-aircraft structure junction attachment.

2. REASONS:

This Airworthiness Directive is issued following the discovery of screws which do not meet the metallurgical requirements.

This Revision 1 covers the conversion of the Service Telex into Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 01.00.43, with no change to the technical content.

3. MANDATORY ACTIONS AND COMPLIANCE TIME:

The following measures are rendered mandatory from the effective date of the original issue of this AD:

3.1. Within 100 flying hours or at the latest by July 31, 1997 (whichever limit is reached first), check the marking on the heads of the 23 attachment screws which are located above the cargo compartment floor and scrap all the screws which are marked with the letter "M" above the designation "BC" in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 2.B.1 of referenced EUROCOPTER AS 355 Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.43.

Important Note:

The measures mentioned above apply to all the aircraft of the ECUREUIL aircraft range except for aircraft which are in the following situations:

1st case: New or overhauled aircraft delivered after May 15,1997.

2nd case: Aircraft on which no tail boom-to-aircraft structure junction attachment screw has been replaced since July 01,1994 (even if these screws are marked with the letter "M").

3.2. At the latest by July 31, 1997, all the screws with this part number which are held as spares and marked with the letter "M", must be scrapped in accordance with the instructions given in paragraph 2.B.2 of the referenced Alert Service Bulletin.

REF.: EUROCOPTER AS 355 Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.43.

This Revision 1 replaces original AD 97-146-054(AB) dated July 16,1997.

EFFECTIVE DATES:

Original AD: On receipt, from JULY 16, 1997

Revision 1: FEBRUARY 02, 2002