Story ID: 412
Airwolf Offers Enstrom AD Solution
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The company's now offers an STC for Enstrom piston operators grounded by the FAA Spindle AD.
Word Count: 189
Airwolf Aerospace is providing a solution to Enstrom Helicopter operators grounded by a recent spindle Airworthiness Directive. The FAA directive grounds all piston-powered Enstroms with more than 1,500 hours on their spindles until they are replaced with new components, and are thereafter subject 500-hour recurring inspections.

Helicopters modified with Airwolf's newly STC'd tension-torsion (TT) straps are no longer affected by the AD, the company said. According to Airwolf, approximately 550 helicopters currently in operation worldwide are covered by the AD.

As a result, Airwolf has invested heavily in building up its required parts inventory and decreasing the turn time required for the conversion. It has committed to shipping completed mod kits back to customers in less than three weeks from receipt of the parts.

The company also announced it is in the final stages of FAA approval for its PMA lead lag bearings, shear bearings and dampers for the Bell 407. As 407 operators have seen a reduction in supply choices for elastomerics components over the past several years, Airwolf is looking to fill the gap, as it has done with the Bell 206, 204, 205, 212, and UH-1.