Is AD 2021-16-11 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

No — AD 2021-16-11 is a one-time directive. Verify it was complied with in the aircraft's records.

Airworthiness Directive 2021-16-11

Q: Which aircraft does AD 2021-16-11 apply to?

AD 2021-16-11 applies to Airbus Helicopters — models AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

one-time

Official AD 2021-16-11 · FR doc 2021-18753 · 2021-09-01 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

What this AD requires

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of reduced yaw control, during an approach for landing, that resulted from rupture of the tail rotor gearbox (TGB) actuating rod and uncoupling of the steel sleeve from inside the external aluminum tube. This AD requires dye penetrant inspecting certain TGB actuating rods for a crack, and depending on the inspection results, replacing the TGB actuating rod, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Which aircraft AD 2021-16-11 applies to

MakesAirbus Helicopters

ModelsAS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, AS350, AS355

Part-conditional — 350A27191000, 350A27191001, 350A27191002, 350A27191003, 350A27191004, 350A2719100401, 350A2719100402, 350A27192000.

Applies only to helicopters with a tail rotor gearbox (TGB) actuating rod having one of the listed part numbers, or a TGB actuating rod with an unknown part number and serial number, installed.

Whether AD 2021-16-11 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 2021-16-11 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.