Tail Rotor Drive - Shaft Sleeves – Inspection
- Published
- Effective
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must inspect all affected tail rotor drive shaft sleeves before the critical part exceeds 4,000 torque cycles or within 55 flight hours after 24 June 2026, whichever is later, and repeat inspections every 55 flight hours thereafter. If any damage is found, corrective actions must be performed before the next flight according to the Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin. Replacement of affected parts resets the inspection threshold to 4,000 torque cycles for the new critical part.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0111 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection of tail rotor drive shaft sleeves on Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B2, AS 350 B3, EC 130 B4, and EC 130 T2 models, excluding those with modification 079809. The directive mandates repetitive inspections of specific tail rotor drive shaft sleeves, part number 704A33698045, to detect damage caused by increased hardness due to high temperatures. This AD aims to prevent potential failure of the tail rotor drive shaft and loss of yaw control.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0111 introduces a requirement for more frequent inspections of affected tail rotor drive shaft sleeves than previously recommended in the aircraft maintenance manual. It establishes inspection intervals based on torque cycles and flight hours and specifies corrective actions if discrepancies are found. This is a new directive rather than an amendment and does not supersede any previous AD.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent tail rotor drive shaft failures that could lead to loss of yaw control, a serious safety risk. It requires adjustments to maintenance schedules and ensures compliance with updated inspection intervals. Compliance teams must track torque cycles and flight hours closely to meet the new inspection requirements and avoid operational disruptions.
More for Airbus Helicopters AS 350
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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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