Tail Rotor – Tail Rotor Hub Body – Inspection / Replacement
Superseded. Comply with 2021-0069, which replaces this document.
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2019-0272-E
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must inspect the affected tail rotor hub bodies within 15 flight hours or 7 days from 1 November 2019 and continue inspections every 15 flight hours. If cracks are found, immediate replacement of the hub body and associated hardware is required before the next flight. Additionally, bolts, washers, and nuts must be replaced within specified flight hour intervals, with the first replacement depending on accumulated flight hours and subsequent replacements every 1,000 flight hours with a 100 flight hour tolerance.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2019-0272R1 is an amendment addressing safety concerns for Airbus Helicopters EC 120 B models. It mandates inspections and potential replacement of the tail rotor hub body, part number C642A0100103, to prevent loss of tail rotor drive and yaw control. The directive includes detailed inspection and replacement procedures to ensure continued airworthiness.
What changed
This revision removes the previous 7 calendar day interval for repetitive inspections, replacing it with intervals based on flight hours to better reflect crack propagation. It also introduces a flexible 1,000 flight hour replacement interval with a non-cumulative margin of 100 flight hours for bolts, washers, and nuts associated with the tail rotor hub body.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent potential loss of yaw control due to tail rotor hub body cracks. Compliance ensures flight safety by addressing a known issue with bolt loosening and crack development. It also aligns inspection intervals with actual usage, optimizing maintenance scheduling and resource allocation.
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