Airworthiness Directive 2001-26-55
recurringAirworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N Helicopters
What this AD requires
This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-26-55, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight and thereafter at specified intervals, visually checking the tail rotor blade (blade) skin for a crack and replacing any cracked blade before further flight. This AD is prompted by the discovery of cracks in the skin of a blade. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the blade, which could result in severe vibration, loss of the tail rotor gearbox (TGB), and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 2001-26-55 applies to
Tail rotor blade skin crack inspection at the trailing edge tab, per Eurocopter Alert Telex Nos. 05.00.40 and 05.00.38; specific model not stated in the retrieved applicability slice.
Whether AD 2001-26-55 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.