Rotors Flight Control — Mixing Control System Rigid Connecting Link — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must perform a visual inspection of the affected rigid connecting links within 10 flight hours or 30 days after exceeding 2,400 flight hours, or within 10 flight hours or 30 days after the effective date of the directive for parts with 2,400 flight hours or more. Any discrepancies found must be corrected before the next flight following the instructions in the applicable Leonardo service bulletins. Inspection results, including no findings, must be reported to Leonardo within 14 days after inspection.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0280 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection of the mixing control system rigid connecting links on Leonardo S.p.A. A109 and A119 helicopter models, including variants such as A109A, A109E, AW109SP, and AW119MKII. The directive mandates a one-time visual inspection of specific rigid connecting links with part numbers 109-0032-01-13, 109-0032-01-17, and 109-0032-01-29 for damage, cracking, or play.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory inspections of the rigid connecting links in the rotor flight control mixing control system due to reported damage and loosening issues. It requires operators to perform inspections within specified flight hour or calendar time limits and to carry out corrective actions if discrepancies are found. Additionally, it mandates reporting inspection results to Leonardo.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the safe operation of affected Leonardo helicopter models by preventing potential failure of the rigid connecting links, which could lead to reduced helicopter control. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure timely inspections and corrective actions to comply with regulatory requirements and avoid unsafe conditions. It also helps in early detection of issues that could impact flight safety.
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