Airworthiness Directive 2011-18-12
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N Helicopters
What this AD requires
We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified ECF model helicopters. This AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI AD states that some cracks have been discovered in the spar of the upper fin on Model AS355N helicopters. Due to the fin design similarity between AS350 and AS355 helicopters, this AD action applies to both helicopter models. Modifying the upper and lower fin attachment is intended to prevent failure of a spar, loss of a fin, a separated fin hitting a rotor, and subsequent loss of control of a helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 2011-18-12 applies to
Applies to Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters with upper and lower fin assemblies installed having the listed part numbers (XX = any two-digit suffix), certificated in any category. MCAI reason: cracks discovered in the spar of the upper fin on Model AS355N helicopters; due to fin design similarity, the same corrective action applies to AS350 helicopters.
Whether AD 2011-18-12 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.