Is AD 2020-15-18 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

No — AD 2020-15-18 is a one-time directive. Verify it was complied with in the aircraft's records.

Which aircraft does AD 2020-15-18 apply to?

AD 2020-15-18 applies to Leonardo — models AB139, AW139, AW169, AW189. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 2020-15-18

one-time

Official AD 2020-15-18 · FR doc 2020-16408 · 2020-07-30 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters

What this AD requires

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo) Model AB139, AW139, AW169, and AW189 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of uncommanded deployment of the emergency flotation system (EFS) due to improper accomplishment of the reset procedure of the shape memory alloy (SMA) inflation system actuation device. This AD requires removal of affected SMA inflation systems and installation of serviceable SMA inflation systems. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Which aircraft AD 2020-15-18 applies to

MakesLeonardo

ModelsAB139, AW139, AW169, AW189

Part-conditional — 3G9560V00332, 3G9560V00432, 3G9560V01432, 3G9560V01532, 8G9560V00331, 8G9560V00431.

AB139/AW139 (all serial numbers): emergency flotation system (EFS) float assembly P/N 3G9560V00332, -00432, -01432, or -01532 installed. AW169 (all serial numbers): EFS float assembly having any part number installed. AW189 (all serial numbers): EFS float assembly P/N 8G9560V00331 or -00431 installed.

Whether AD 2020-15-18 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 2020-15-18 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.