Main Rotor — Swashplate Retaining Bushes / Ball Joint Seating — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of Airbus Helicopters SA 330 and AS 332 helicopters must inspect each affected retaining bush before the next flight after 4 October 2023, following the instructions in the relevant Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletins. Non-conforming parts must be replaced before further flight, and if ball joint seating issues are found, approved repair instructions from Airbus Helicopters must be followed. Only serviceable parts may be installed from the effective date onward.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2023-0174-E is an emergency directive addressing the inspection of main rotor swashplate retaining bushes and ball joint seating on Airbus Helicopters SA 330 and AS 332 models. It applies to all serial numbers of these helicopters and focuses on parts with manufacturer part number 330A31-3120-20. The directive mandates inspections to detect out-of-tolerance retaining bushes that could compromise helicopter control.
What changed
This new emergency airworthiness directive introduces a one-time inspection requirement for affected retaining bushes on the main rotor swashplate assembly. It requires replacement of any non-conforming parts and inspection of the scissor attachment ball joint seating if issues are found. The directive also restricts installation to only serviceable parts as defined by the associated Airbus Helicopters service bulletins.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because undetected out-of-tolerance retaining bushes can cause damage to the main rotor assembly, potentially leading to loss of helicopter control. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and safety. Compliance teams need to track and enforce these inspections to avoid regulatory violations and operational risks.
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