CANCELLED: Tail Rotor — Laminated Half-Bearings — Inspection / Replacement
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2012-0257-E
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators and maintenance personnel should follow the inspection and maintenance requirements specified in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual Airworthiness Limitations Section as mandated by EASA ADs 2024-0133 and 2024-0134. There are no new actions or deadlines introduced by this cancellation notice. For any questions, stakeholders should contact EASA Safety Information Section or Airbus Helicopters Technical Support.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive Cancellation Notice 2012-0257-CN cancels the previous EASA Emergency AD 2012-0257-E concerning inspection and replacement of laminated half-bearings on the tail rotors of Airbus Helicopters AS 350 and AS 355 models. This cancellation affects all serial numbers of AS 350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, D, and most B3 helicopters except those with modification 075601, as well as AS 355 E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP helicopters. The directive addresses safety concerns related to premature failure of laminated half-bearings that could lead to tail rotor failure and loss of control in flight.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive Cancellation Notice 2012-0257-CN officially cancels the earlier AD 2012-0257-E because the inspection requirements have been incorporated into the revised Aircraft Maintenance Manual Airworthiness Limitations Section. New ADs 2024-0133 and 2024-0134 now cover the necessary repetitive inspections, rendering the previous AD redundant. No new inspection or replacement actions are introduced by this cancellation notice.
Why it matters
This cancellation simplifies compliance for operators and maintenance organizations by consolidating inspection requirements into the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, reducing regulatory overlap. It ensures that safety-critical inspections of laminated half-bearings continue under updated maintenance procedures, maintaining flight safety without duplicative directives. Compliance teams can now focus on the latest ADs and maintenance manual instructions for tail rotor bearing inspections.
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