EASA AD 2020-0246
Wiring Harness — Lateral Control Rod Wiring — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0246 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters, specifically all serial numbers up to 20334 inclusive except for a few listed exceptions. The directive mandates inspection of the wiring harness near the lateral control rod to detect chafing and clearance issues. It also requires updating the Aircraft Maintenance Programme to include ongoing inspection tasks.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a one-time inspection requirement for the lateral control rod wiring harness on affected MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters due to reported chafing marks and low clearance. It also mandates corrective actions if discrepancies are found and requires incorporation of inspection tasks into the maintenance program within 12 months or at the next AMP update.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent potential in-flight failures related to wiring harness damage, which could lead to loss of hoist load or emergency situations. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety of the affected helicopters, avoiding possible personal injury and operational disruptions.
What To Do
Operators must perform the specified inspection within 110 flight hours or 3 months from 24 November 2020, whichever occurs first. Any damage or clearance issues found must be corrected before the next flight. Additionally, the Aircraft Maintenance Programme must be updated within 12 months or at the next AMP revision to include the inspection tasks described in the Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin MBB-BK117 D-2-88A-006.
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