Main Rotor Drive – Main Gearbox Flexible Mounting Plate – Maintenance Task
- Published
- Effective
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of Group 1 AS 332 helicopters must perform the specified maintenance task within 50 flight hours after 17 July 2026 and repeat it every 50 flight hours thereafter. The maintenance must follow the instructions in Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin AS332-05-00-0006. No terminating action is provided, so ongoing compliance is required until further notice.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0129 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus Helicopters AS 332 C, C1, L, and L1 models. It mandates maintenance on the main gearbox flexible mounting plate, specifically part numbers 332A38010600 and 332A38010620, to ensure proper torque on attachment bolts. This directive addresses a maintenance task correction related to helicopters performing external load transport with loads of 2.5 tons or less.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a requirement to perform maintenance task 63/30/00/401/000/200 on Group 1 helicopters, which have affected parts installed and operate with more than 4 torque cycles per flight hour while transporting external loads of 2.5 tons or less. Previously, this task was only required for helicopters carrying loads heavier than 2.5 tons. The directive corrects this oversight and expands the applicability of the maintenance task to prevent structural damage.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent insufficient tightening torque on the flexible mounting plate bolts, which could reduce the service life of the component and cause structural damage. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety of the affected AS 332 helicopter fleet. It also clarifies maintenance requirements that were previously ambiguous, helping compliance teams avoid regulatory violations.
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