Airworthiness DirectiveEASA AD CF-2011-42R1

Fuselage - Longeron Cracking - Inspection / Repair.

Published: Jun 12, 2019
Effective: Jun 19, 2019
Deadline: Jun 19, 2019
Replaces: 2011-42

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

What to do

Operators must perform initial and repetitive inspections of the upper left longeron assembly and aft fuselage top skin according to the specified schedules, depending on helicopter flight hours and modification status. Cracks must be repaired or the longeron replaced with a new assembly and external strap doublers installed. Verification inspections are required within 50 flight hours for certain helicopters, with compliance deadlines as early as November 30, 2011, for helicopters exceeding 1200 flight hours.

Summary

The Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2011-42R1 addresses fuselage longeron cracking in Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 407 helicopters, specifically those equipped with upper left longeron assemblies part numbers 206-031-314-037, 206-031-314-177, or spare assembly 206-031-314-219B. This directive mandates inspections and repairs to detect and correct cracking in the upper left longeron to maintain structural integrity and ensure flight safety. It applies to helicopters with serial numbers 53000 through 53900, 53911 through 54061, and 54300.

What changed

CF-2011-42R1 revises the original AD CF-2011-42 by correcting an error in the French version regarding inspection schedules for longerons with and without external strap doublers. It also clarifies editorial content for better understanding. The revision requires verification inspections for certain helicopters previously inspected under the original French AD version and confirms compliance for others inspected under the English or French versions.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to prevent potential structural failure due to longeron cracking, which could lead to catastrophic helicopter loss. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety of Bell Model 407 helicopters. Maintenance teams must follow the specified inspection intervals and repair procedures to avoid operational disruptions and regulatory penalties.

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