New Airworthiness Directive Proposed for Airbus Helicopters

The FAA has issued an NPRM to supersede airworthiness directive 2013-21-01, which currently applies to the Airbus Helicopters AS350B/BA/B1/B2/B3/C/D/D1 and AS355E/F/F1/F2/N/NP. The current AD requires certain inspections of each tail-rotor pitch horn assembly for a crack and, if there is a crack, replacing the pitch horn with an airworthy pitch horn before further flight. It also requires a one-time visual inspection for pitch horns above certain hours time-in-service (TIS). This NPRM would retain those requirements and add a repetitive visual inspection for all pitch horns regardless of hours TIS. The FAA is accepting comments until August 8.