Federal Register #2026-20100

FAA airworthiness directive for Leonardo AB139 and AW139 helicopter clamp assemblies

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety directive affecting certain Leonardo S.p.a. helicopters. - Government buyer / issuing office: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration. - OEM: Leonardo S.p.a., manufacturer of the affected Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. - Affected aircraft: Model AB139 and Model AW139 helicopters identified under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirements. - Required actions: Repeatedly inspect nozzle exhaust duct clamp assemblies, check for physical damage, and replace affected parts as required by inspection results. Installation of affected clamps is restricted unless the specified conditions are met. - The initial inspection is due within 25 hours of time in service after the directive takes effect; subsequent inspections follow the intervals specified in the incorporated EASA directive. - Safety concern: A clamp could contact and damage the tail rotor drive shaft, potentially causing loss of yaw control. - Procurement status: This is a regulatory airworthiness requirement, not a purchase solicitation. No purchase quantities, part numbers, or government-procured products or services are specified.

Description

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. It requires repetitive inspections of specified clamp assemblies and, depending on the results, replacement of parts. The directive also prohibits installing an affected clamp assembly unless specified requirements are met. It addresses the risk of damage to the tail rotor drive shaft and resulting loss of helicopter control around the yaw axis.

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