EASA AD 2021-0192
SUPERSEDED BY EASA AD 2025-0227
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0192 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus Helicopters EC 175 B models. It addresses the service life limits of the main rotor upper and lower H legs, specifically parts M623A4201101 and M623A4231101, to prevent potential cracks due to aging. The directive mandates recording the manufacturing date and enforcing a retirement life of 10 years for these parts.
What Changed
This directive introduces a mandatory service life limit of 10 years for the affected main rotor H legs on EC 175 B helicopters, requiring replacement before exceeding this limit. It also requires operators to record the manufacturing date of these parts and prohibits installation of affected parts beyond the defined serviceable life. No previous airworthiness directive is superseded by this AD.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for maintaining helicopter safety by preventing potential failure of main rotor H legs due to aging-related cracks, which could lead to loss of control. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to avoid unsafe conditions and regulatory violations. It impacts maintenance planning, part tracking, and replacement scheduling for affected helicopters.
What To Do
Operators of EC 175 B helicopters must identify if their aircraft have affected main rotor H legs installed and record the manufacturing dates. Affected parts must be replaced before reaching 10 years since manufacture, with specific compliance times depending on the part's age at the effective date. From 1 September 2021, only serviceable parts may be installed, and replacements must follow the Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin EC175-04A003 Revision 3 instructions.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.