EASA AD 2020-0164: Fuselage — Pylon Skin — Inspection

What to do

Operators of Airbus Helicopters EC 175 B with serial numbers 5018, 5023, 5026, and 5037 must perform a manual tapping inspection of the tail rotor pylon right-hand centre skin within 110 flight hours from 5 August 2020. If any damage or non-conformity is detected, applicable corrective actions specified in the Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin EC175-53A040 must be completed promptly.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0164 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus Helicopters EC 175 B models with specific serial numbers 5018, 5023, 5026, and 5037. The directive mandates inspection of the tail rotor pylon right-hand side centre skin for potential damage to the honeycomb panel following retrofit installations. This inspection aims to ensure the structural integrity of the pylon and prevent possible safety hazards.

What changed

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0164 introduces a new mandatory one-time manual tapping inspection of the tail rotor pylon right-hand centre skin on affected EC 175 B helicopters. It requires corrective actions if any damage or non-conformity is found during the inspection. This directive is a new regulation addressing a specific unsafe condition discovered after retrofit modifications.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals because undetected damage to the tail rotor pylon honeycomb panel can lead to vibrations and a significant reduction in structural safety margins. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to prevent potential structural failures that could compromise flight safety. The directive helps maintain continuing airworthiness and regulatory compliance for affected helicopters.

What to do

Summary

What changed

Why it matters

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