Main Rotor — Main Rotor Blades — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must perform hammer tapping inspections of affected main rotor blades within 50 flight hours after 25 June 2018 and repeat every 50 flight hours. If disbonding is detected within permitted limits, inspections must be done every 10 flight hours. Blades exceeding disbond limits must be replaced before next flight. Installation of affected blades is only allowed if they are serviceable. Replacing all affected blades or accumulating 1,200 flight hours without critical findings terminates inspection requirements.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0130 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection of main rotor blades on Leonardo S.p.A. AB139 and AW139 helicopters. It mandates repetitive hammer tapping inspections of specific main rotor blades with part number 3G6210A00131 due to potential bonding defects in the tip cap. The directive applies to all serial numbers of these helicopters and aims to prevent in-flight loss of the rotor blade tip cap.
What changed
This new directive introduces mandatory repetitive inspections of affected main rotor blades to detect disbonding of the tip cap caused by an incorrect bonding procedure during manufacture. It requires replacement of blades exceeding permitted disbond limits and prohibits installation of non-serviceable affected parts. The directive also defines terminating actions based on inspection results or flight hour accumulation.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of AB139 and AW139 helicopters. Detecting and correcting tip cap disbonding prevents potential in-flight loss of rotor blade components, which could lead to significant vibration, increased pilot workload, and reduced helicopter control. Compliance helps avoid unsafe conditions and regulatory penalties.
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