Tail Rotor Drive — Gearbox Assembly — Replacement
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of A109E helicopters with affected tail rotor gearbox assemblies must replace these parts with approved serviceable parts within specified flight hour or calendar time limits, generally within 25 flight hours or 3 months for parts with higher flight hours, or within 50 flight hours or 6 months for others, whichever occurs first after 5 February 2021. Additionally, no affected parts may be installed on any helicopter from the effective date onward. Compliance must follow Leonardo Alert Service Bulletin 109EP-174 instructions.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0031 is an airworthiness directive addressing the replacement of tail rotor gearbox assemblies on Leonardo S.p.A. A109E helicopters. It applies to all A109E helicopters with serial numbers up to 11160 inclusive and targets specific tail rotor gearbox part numbers that are not approved for installation on these helicopters. The directive mandates replacing affected tail rotor gearbox assemblies with approved serviceable parts to ensure continued airworthiness.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0031 introduces a mandatory replacement of tail rotor gearbox assemblies having part number 109-0440-01-115 with serviceable parts having part numbers 109-0440-01-119, 109-0440-01-121, or 109-0440-01-123. It also prohibits the installation or reinstallation of the affected parts on any A109E helicopter. This is a new directive and does not supersede any previous ADs.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because the affected tail rotor gearbox assemblies are not approved for use on A109E helicopters and lack published overhaul or life limits, posing a risk of failure. Failure of these parts could lead to reduced helicopter control, impacting flight safety. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure timely replacement to maintain airworthiness and regulatory compliance.
More for Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters A109
All 51- EASA AD 2026-0168Tail Rotor Drive – Tail Gear Box and Chip Detector – InspectionAug 24, 2026
- 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.