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Airworthiness Directive 2023-03-03

recurring
Official AD 2023-03-03 · FR doc 2023-03270 · 2023-02-16 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters

What this AD requires

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a damaged tail rotor duplex bearing (TRDB). This AD requires repetitively inspecting certain TRDBs and depending on the results, replacing the TRDB or tail rotor actuator (TRA), or as an option, replacing the sliding control assembly. This AD also requires replacing an affected TRDB with a serviceable TRDB at a specified threshold and prohibits the installation of certain TRDBs or sliding control assemblies on any helicopter, 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.

Repetitive inspection. Re-inspect. The next-due date/hours depend on this aircraft’s time in service — a records report computes it from the logbooks.

Which aircraft AD 2023-03-03 applies to

MakesLeonardo S.P.A.
ModelsAB139, AW139

Whether AD 2023-03-03 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 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 2023-03-03 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.