EASA AD 2024-0134
Time Limits / Maintenance Checks — Airworthiness Limitations Section — Amendment
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0134 is an amendment addressing time limits and maintenance checks in the Airworthiness Limitations Section for Airbus Helicopters AS 355 series, including models E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP. It mandates compliance with updated maintenance tasks and life limits as specified in the latest Airbus Helicopters AS 355 Aircraft Maintenance Manual Chapter 04 revisions. The directive ensures continued airworthiness by enforcing new and more restrictive maintenance requirements.
What Changed
EASA AD 2024-0134 supersedes previous directives including DGAC France AD F-1984-045-022R4 and EASA AD 2021-0193, and partially incorporates requirements from EASA AD 2021-0282 and EASA AD 2012-0257-E. It introduces new and more restrictive maintenance tasks and life limits, consolidating repetitive check requirements into the updated Airworthiness Limitations Section. This amendment also aligns maintenance requirements across the AS 355 helicopter variants with the latest approved ALS revisions.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to ensure compliance with mandatory airworthiness limitations, preventing unsafe conditions due to overlooked maintenance tasks or expired life limits. It harmonizes maintenance practices and intervals, reducing the risk of component failures and enhancing flight safety. Compliance teams must update their maintenance programs to reflect these changes to avoid regulatory non-compliance and potential grounding of aircraft.
What To Do
Operators must replace components before exceeding life limits and perform all maintenance tasks within specified thresholds and intervals as per the applicable ALS starting from 17 July 2024. Any discrepancies found during maintenance must be corrected within the specified compliance times or before the next flight if no time is given. Additionally, the approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme must be revised within 12 months after the effective date to incorporate the updated limitations and tasks.