Airworthiness Directive 2021-19-03

one-time
Official AD 2021-19-03 · FR doc 2021-20825 · 2021-09-27 · 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. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of spurious in-flight disconnections of the automatic flight control system (AFCS). This AD requires updating certain "Primus Epic" system software, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now 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 2021-19-03 applies to

MakesLeonardo S.P.A.
ModelsAB139, AW139
Serial-conditional — narrows to serials 31005–31006, 31008–31157, 41001–41023, 31201–?, 41201–?.

Applies only to helicopters equipped with 'Primus Epic' system software release 7.4 (Phase 7 V1), 7.7 (Phase 7 V3), or 7.10 (Phase 7 V4). Serial groupings correspond to paragraph (c)(1) (AB139/AW139 S/N 31005, 31006, 31008 through 31157 inclusive, and 41001 through 41023 inclusive) and paragraph (c)(2) (AW139 S/N 31201 and subsequent, and 41201 and subsequent).

Whether AD 2021-19-03 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 complianceThe specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
DateWhen the work was done.
Aircraft timeTotal time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificateThe A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 2021-19-03 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.