Equipment / Furnishings — Forward Facing Central Seat(s) — Removal
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2020-0191
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must remove the affected forward-facing central seats within 50 flight hours after 11 September 2020 unless the helicopter has been modified per Service Bulletin 139-678. Alternatively, for configurations requiring removal of two seats, a different approved seating configuration may be adopted to remove only one seat. Compliance actions should follow the instructions in Leonardo Alert Service Bulletin 139-633 Revision A.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0191R1 is a regulatory update addressing a design deficiency in certain Leonardo AB139 and AW139 helicopters equipped with a specific passenger cabin floor and forward-facing central seats in the first row. The directive mandates removal of affected seats to prevent potential failure during emergency landings, which could cause injury to occupants. It applies to helicopters with serial numbers 31400 to 31882 and 41300 to 41570, excluding those modified with Leonardo Service Bulletin 139-678.
What changed
This revision of EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0191 reduces the applicability by excluding helicopters that have incorporated Leonardo Service Bulletin 139-678, which introduces a reinforced cabin floor modification. The directive updates compliance requirements to reflect this change and continues to require removal of affected seats or modification to an approved seating configuration.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to ensure the safety and airworthiness of affected AB139 and AW139 helicopters. Compliance prevents seat failure during emergency landings, reducing the risk of occupant injury. It also clarifies acceptable alternative seating arrangements and provides credit for prior compliance, aiding in regulatory adherence and operational planning.
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