Rotors – Main Gearbox Oil Cooling Fan – Inspection / Replacement
Superseded. Comply with 2022-0191R1, which replaces this document.
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2010-0147-E
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must inspect the play between the fan rotor blade and guide vane bearing housing within 10 flight hours of the effective date and every 10 flight hours thereafter. If insufficient clearance is found, immediate replacement of the affected bearings with serviceable parts is required before the next flight. Additionally, all affected parts must be replaced within 100 to 300 flight hours depending on their service life, as specified in the directive.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0171 is an airworthiness directive issued for Airbus Helicopters SA 330 J helicopters. It addresses the risk of main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan rotor shaft bearing degradation that could lead to rotor burst and damage to critical hydraulic pipes and flight controls. The directive mandates inspections and replacement of specific MGB oil cooling fan rotor shaft bearings to ensure continued safe operation.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0171 supersedes the previous AD 2010-0147-E and introduces a requirement to replace affected MGB oil cooling fan rotor shaft bearings with improved serviceable parts. It retains the inspection requirements but adds mandatory replacement within specified flight hour limits to mitigate the unsafe condition.
Why it matters
This directive is crucial for aviation professionals because it prevents potential catastrophic failure of the MGB oil cooling fan assembly, which could compromise helicopter control. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to avoid in-flight failures and ensure regulatory compliance, thereby maintaining aircraft airworthiness and safety.
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