Tail Rotor — Tail Rotor Blades — Inspection

Published: Feb 19, 2026
Effective: Mar 5, 2026
Replaces: 2025-0113

AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.

What to do

Operators must inspect affected tail rotor blades before they exceed 1,432 flight hours since first installation and continue inspections at intervals specified by helicopter model groupings. If cracks are found, immediate replacement with serviceable parts is required before next flight. Installation of affected parts is allowed only if they are serviceable and inspections are performed as mandated. The effective date for compliance is 5 March 2026.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0031 is issued for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH EC135 and EC635 helicopter models. It mandates repetitive inspections of tail rotor blade assemblies with part number L642A2002121 due to risks of intergranular corrosion that may cause cracks and potential rupture. The directive applies to all variants and serial numbers of the affected helicopter models.

What changed

This directive supersedes EASA AD 2025-0113 and discontinues one of the previously approved inspection methods (method A). It introduces updated inspection procedures as described in Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin EC135-64-11-0003 issue 002 and adds new limitations and inspection intervals based on helicopter groupings.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent tail rotor blade failures that could lead to reduced helicopter control. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety by detecting corrosion-related cracks early. It also clarifies inspection methods and intervals, helping maintenance teams plan and execute required inspections effectively.

More for Airbus Helicopters EC135

All 49

Get the next one by email

New ADs and bulletins for Airbus Helicopters EC135 and Helicopters 635, summarized like this page, every Monday.