Airworthiness DirectiveEASA AD 2026-0132

Rotors Flight Control – Upper Ball Bearing End of the Main Rotor Servo-Controls – Inspection

Published: Jul 8, 2026
Effective: Jul 22, 2026

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

What to do

Operators must perform an inspection of the nut tightening torque on all three affected main rotor servo-controls within 165 flight hours or 6 months from 22 July 2026, whichever occurs first. After any re-installation of affected servo-controls, torque checks must be done between 2 and 10 flight hours post-installation. If torque values are unacceptable, corrective actions must be completed before the next flight, followed by additional inspections as specified. Inspection results must be reported to Airbus Helicopters within 30 days of inspection.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0132 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection of the upper ball bearing ends of the main rotor servo-controls on Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3, AS 355 (F, F1, F2, N, NP), and EC 130 (B4, T2) models. The directive mandates a one-time and recurring inspection of the nut tightening torque on affected parts to prevent potential disconnection of the upper ball bearing end from the main rotor servo-controls. This AD applies to specific part numbers equipped with certain nut retainers and aims to ensure continued safe flight control operation.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory inspections of the nut tightening torque on the upper ball bearing ends of the main rotor servo-controls for the specified helicopter models. It requires initial inspections within 165 flight hours or 6 months and repeated checks after each re-installation of affected servo-controls. The AD also mandates corrective actions if torque values are found unacceptable and requires reporting inspection results to Airbus Helicopters.

Why it matters

This AD is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a safety risk involving potential loss of control due to loosening of the main rotor servo-control connections. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to prevent in-flight failures that could lead to accidents. Compliance teams need to track inspection schedules and ensure corrective actions are performed promptly to maintain airworthiness.

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