EASA AD 2018-0210-E
Equipment & Furnishings — Hoist Carrier Assembly — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0210-E is an emergency directive addressing the inspection of the hoist carrier assembly on Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH EC135 and EC635 helicopter models, excluding the P3H and T3H variants. It targets Goodrich electrical hoists with specific part numbers installed on these helicopters to ensure correct assembly and prevent potential safety hazards.
What Changed
This new directive introduces a mandatory one-time inspection of the hoist carrier assembly on affected helicopters to detect incorrect assembly of the retaining spring and carrier retainer. It also requires replacement of the hoist carrier assembly if defects are found and mandates inspection before any (re)installation of affected parts.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because an incorrectly assembled hoist carrier assembly could lead to loosening and loss of load, posing serious safety risks to personnel on the ground. Operators and maintenance teams must ensure compliance to maintain airworthiness and prevent accidents related to rescue hoist operations.
What To Do
Operators of affected EC135 and EC635 helicopters must inspect the hoist carrier assembly before the next hoist operation after 27 September 2018. If the assembly is found incorrectly installed, it must be replaced before further use. Additionally, any affected hoist part must be inspected and cleared before installation on any helicopter from the effective date onward.
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AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.