Tail Rotor Drive – Tail Gear Box and Chip Detector – Inspection
- Published
- Effective
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Leonardo A109 and AW109SP helicopters must perform the specified maintenance actions during the next scheduled tail rotor gearbox oil replacement or within 30 days after 7 September 2026, whichever is later. These inspections and tests must be repeated every 100 flight hours or 6 months. Any discrepancies found must be corrected before further flight and reported to Leonardo S.p.A. Replacing the affected TGB with a non-affected unit terminates the repetitive inspection requirement.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0168 is issued for Leonardo S.p.A. A109 series helicopters and AW109SP models, addressing inspection requirements for the tail rotor drive's tail gear box (TGB) and chip detector. This directive applies to all serial numbers of the affected helicopter models equipped with specific Turbomecanica-manufactured TGB case assemblies. The AD mandates repetitive inspections, cleaning, and operational tests to detect abnormal wear and prevent potential failure of the tail gear box.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2026-0168 introduces new mandatory maintenance actions including inspection of oil color, chip detector inspection and cleaning, and operational testing for affected tail gear boxes. It establishes a compliance schedule with intervals not exceeding 100 flight hours or 6 months and requires reporting of discrepancies to Leonardo S.p.A. This AD also defines terminating action by replacing the affected TGB with a non-affected unit.
Why it matters
This AD is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a safety risk related to abnormal wear in the tail gear box that could lead to loss of yaw control in affected helicopters. Operators and maintenance organizations must implement these inspections to ensure continued airworthiness and prevent potential accidents. Compliance with this directive is mandatory to maintain operational approval of the affected helicopters within EASA jurisdictions.
More for Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters A109
All 51- EASA AD 2024-0004R1Fuselage – Centre Fuselage Frame Assembly – Inspection / Repair / ModificationAug 10, 2026
- EASA PAD 26-088Tail Rotor Drive – Tail Gear Box and Chip Detector – InspectionJul 23, 2026
- EASA AD 2026-0115Stabilizers – Torque Tube Assembly – InspectionJun 15, 2026
- EASA AD 2026-0045Rotors Flight Control — Collective Stick Torque Tube Assembly — Inspection / ReplacementMar 4, 2026
- EASA PAD 26-014Rotors Flight Control — Collective Stick Torque Tube Assembly — Inspection / Replacement
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New ADs and bulletins for Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters A109, S.P.A. Helicopters A119, A109 and AW109SP, summarized like this page, every Monday.