Main Rotor — Swashplate Support — Replacement
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of AW109SP helicopters must determine if their aircraft have the affected swashplate support installed and replace it within specified flight hour limits: immediately before next flight if the part has 1,000 or more flight hours, or within 15 flight hours if unknown, or before reaching 1,000 flight hours if less. Installation of the affected part is prohibited from the effective date of 2018-03-10. Compliance must follow Leonardo Service Bulletin 109SP-119 instructions.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0053-E is an emergency directive addressing the replacement of the main rotor swashplate support on Leonardo S.p.A. AW109SP helicopters. It targets swashplate supports with Part Number 109-0110-05-101, which are not eligible for installation on these helicopters. The directive mandates corrective action to ensure continued airworthiness and safety.
What changed
This new directive requires the replacement of affected swashplate supports with eligible parts and prohibits the installation of the affected part number on any AW109SP helicopter. It introduces compliance requirements based on the accumulated flight hours of the affected parts and references Leonardo Service Bulletin 109SP-119 for the replacement procedure.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because the affected swashplate support part is not approved for AW109SP helicopters and could lead to swashplate failure and potential loss of control. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure affected parts are identified and replaced promptly to maintain safety and regulatory compliance.
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