Is AD 2003-21-09 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

No — AD 2003-21-09 is a one-time directive. Verify it was complied with in the aircraft's records.

Which aircraft does AD 2003-21-09 apply to?

AD 2003-21-09 applies to Eurocopter — models AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 2003-21-09

one-time

Official AD 2003-21-09 · FR doc 03-26467 · 2003-10-22 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N Helicopters

What this AD requires

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters. The existing AD currently requires certain checks of the magnetic chip detector plug (chip detector) and the main gearbox (MGB) oil-sight glass; and certain inspections of the lubrication pump (pump) and replacing the MGB and the pump with an airworthy MGB and pump, if necessary. Also, the AD requires that a before a MGB or pump with any time-in-service (TIS) can be installed, it must meet the AD requirements. This amendment requires the same actions as the existing AD but corrects the wording to state that the check of the chip detector is for sludge rather than metal particles. This amendment is prompted by the need to correct the wording because the term "metal particles" may be misleading. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect sludge on the chip detector, to prevent failure of the MGB pump, seizure of the MGB, loss of drive to an engine and main rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Which aircraft AD 2003-21-09 applies to

MakesEurocopter

ModelsAS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355

Part-conditional — 355A32-0700-00, 355A32-0700-01, 355A32-0700-01M.

Applies only if main gearbox (MGB) lubrication pump P/N 355A32-0700-00, -01, or -01M is installed.

Whether AD 2003-21-09 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:

Method of compliance — The specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.

Date — When the work was done.

Aircraft time — Total time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.

Signature & certificate — The A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.

Is AD 2003-21-09 complied with on your aircraft?

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.