Airworthiness Directive 2002-18-06
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332C, L, L1, and Model SA330F, G, and J Helicopters
What this AD requires
This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS332C, L, and L1 and Model SA330F, G, and J helicopters, that currently requires an inspection to determine the angular play of the tail rotor gearbox (gearbox) at specified intervals. This amendment changes the measurement limits and the load to be applied to a tail rotor blade (blade) when determining the angular play. This amendment is prompted by a review of design data and a determination that the amount of play can be increased with an increase in the amount of applied load during the inspection. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect excessive angular play and to prevent failure of a gearbox, loss of tail rotor drive, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 2002-18-06 applies to
Tail rotor gearbox bevel-gear/driveshaft spline play inspection with model-specific thresholds and removal criteria, per Eurocopter France Alert SB 05.00.44 (Model AS332) / SB 05.86 (Model SA330), both Rev 1.
Whether AD 2002-18-06 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.
How AD compliance is recorded
A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:
Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.
Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.