Fuselage – Rear Transmission Bearing Support – Inspection
Superseded. Comply with 2023-0028, which replaces this document.
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2021-0235-E
- Replaces
- 2021-0235-E
- Replaces
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must perform repetitive visual inspections of the rear transmission bearing support rivets and local structure before next flight or within 7 days after November 1, 2021, and thereafter every 10 flight hours. Additional inspections of rivet heads under Teflon tape are required within 10 flight hours or 7 days after December 21, 2021, and then every 10 flight hours. Any cracks or rivet issues must be addressed before next flight following approved repair instructions, and inspection findings must be reported to Airbus Helicopters within 30 days after rivet replacement.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0283R1 is an updated safety directive addressing inspection requirements for Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2 models equipped with modification 074581. It mandates repetitive inspections of the rear transmission shaft bearing support rivets and local structure to detect cracks or rivet degradation that could lead to tail rotor drive shaft failure and loss of yaw control.
What changed
This revision of EASA AD 2021-0283R1 increases the inspection intervals based on in-service feedback and flight tests, updates the related Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin to Revision 2, and corrects the issue date of the directive. It retains previous inspection and reporting requirements while reflecting the latest inspection guidance and intervals.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent potential catastrophic failure of the tail rotor drive shaft due to rivet degradation. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety of EC 130 T2 helicopters, avoiding loss of yaw control which could lead to accidents. It also provides clear inspection and corrective action procedures to maintain regulatory compliance.
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- EASA AD 2026-0052R2Instruments – Fuse Cover Attachment of Circuit Breaker Panel – ModificationSep 24, 2026
- EASA AD 2023-0214R1Fuselage – Tail Rotor Drive Shaft / Rear Transmission Bearing Support – Inspections / ModificationSep 16, 2026
- EASA AD 2024-0144R1Tail Rotor Drive – Shaft-Line – Check / Measurement / ModificationSep 16, 2026
- EASA AD 2026-0146
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