EASA AD 2022-0205
Tail Rotor — Damper Bracket — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0205 is an airworthiness directive addressing inspection requirements for the tail rotor damper bracket assemblies on Leonardo AB139 and AW139 helicopters. It applies to parts with Part Numbers 3G6420A06131 and 4G6420A04432, covering all serial numbers. The directive mandates repetitive detailed visual inspections to detect cracks and corrosion that could compromise tail rotor damper integrity.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0205 supersedes AD 2022-0154 and expands the scope to include additional serial numbers and a second part number for the tail rotor damper bracket assembly. It updates the affected part definition and requires inspections for all affected parts, not just a limited batch, due to newly reported cracks. The directive also retains repetitive inspection requirements and corrective actions.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent potential tail rotor damper failure caused by stress corrosion cracks. Failure to comply could lead to loss of tail rotor control and compromise helicopter safety. Ensuring timely inspections and corrective actions maintains airworthiness and regulatory compliance for affected Leonardo AB139 and AW139 helicopters.
What To Do
Operators must perform detailed visual inspections of the affected tail rotor damper bracket assemblies within 50 flight hours or 2 months from the effective date of this AD, and then at intervals not exceeding 50 flight hours or 6 months. Any corrosion found must be removed before further flight, and any cracks or persistent corrosion require immediate replacement with a serviceable part. Inspection results with discrepancies must be reported to Leonardo within 30 days.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.