Emergency Flotation System Inflation Hose — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of AW189 helicopters with affected EFS assemblies must perform a visual inspection within 30 flight hours or at the next scheduled EFS kit annual inspection, whichever occurs first, following Leonardo Service Bulletin 189-212 instructions. If incorrect installation is found, corrective actions must be completed before the next flight. Additionally, no affected EFS assemblies may be installed on any helicopter from the effective date onward.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0279 is an airworthiness directive issued for Leonardo S.p.A. AW189 helicopters concerning the Emergency Flotation System (EFS) inflation hose assemblies. It addresses specific part numbers and serial numbers of the left-hand and right-hand aft EFS assemblies that may have incorrect inflation hose connections. The directive mandates inspection and corrective actions to ensure proper inflation hose installation to maintain flotation system effectiveness.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a one-time inspection requirement for affected EFS assemblies on AW189 helicopters to verify correct installation of yellow sleeves and proper hose connections. It prohibits installation of affected EFS assemblies from the effective date and requires corrective actions if discrepancies are found during inspection. The directive is based on a reported maintenance discrepancy that could compromise flotation bag inflation.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as incorrect inflation hose connections could lead to partial inflation of flotation bags during ditching, potentially delaying occupant egress and increasing injury risk. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft safety and airworthiness. Failure to comply could result in unsafe conditions and regulatory violations.
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