Fuselage – Centre Fuselage Frame Assembly – Inspection / Repair
Superseded. Comply with 2022-0153, which replaces this document.
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Leonardo A109E helicopters must perform an initial inspection within 100 flight hours after reaching 1,000 flight hours or 3,500 landings, or within 100 flight hours after the effective date if these thresholds are exceeded. Inspections must then be repeated every 100 flight hours. If cracks are found, repairs must be completed before the next flight following the instructions in Leonardo Alert Service Bulletin 109EP-173. After repair, the next inspection can be deferred up to 1,000 flight hours or 3,500 landings.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0256 is an airworthiness directive issued for Leonardo S.p.A. A109E helicopters, specifically serial numbers 11001 to 11674 inclusive. It mandates repetitive inspections and repairs of the centre fuselage frame assembly at station 1815, where cracks have been reported. The directive aims to ensure the structural integrity of affected helicopters by requiring inspections and corrective actions as per Leonardo Alert Service Bulletin 109EP-173.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0256 introduces mandatory repetitive inspections of the centre fuselage frame assembly at the lateral pylon intersection with the floor spar on both left and right sides. It requires corrective repairs if cracks are found and allows deferral of subsequent inspections up to 1,000 flight hours or 3,500 landings after repair. This directive is a new regulation addressing a newly identified unsafe condition without superseding any previous AD.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a structural integrity issue that could compromise helicopter safety if undetected. Operators and maintenance organizations must incorporate these inspections into their maintenance schedules to remain compliant and ensure continued airworthiness. Compliance helps prevent potential in-flight failures and supports regulatory adherence under EU aviation safety regulations.
More for Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters A109
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- EASA AD 2024-0004R1Fuselage – Centre Fuselage Frame Assembly – Inspection / Repair / ModificationAug 10, 2026
- EASA PAD 26-088Tail Rotor Drive – Tail Gear Box and Chip Detector – InspectionJul 23, 2026
- EASA AD 2026-0115Stabilizers – Torque Tube Assembly – InspectionJun 15, 2026
- EASA AD 2026-0045Rotors Flight Control — Collective Stick Torque Tube Assembly — Inspection / Replacement
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New ADs and bulletins for Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters A109, S.P.A. Helicopters A119 and A109E, summarized like this page, every Monday.