Is AD 97-26-18 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

No — AD 97-26-18 is a one-time directive. Verify it was complied with in the aircraft's records.

Which aircraft does AD 97-26-18 apply to?

AD 97-26-18 applies to Eurocopter. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 97-26-18

one-time

Official AD 97-26-18 · FR doc 97-33145 · 1997-12-19 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA-360C Helicopters

What this AD requires

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Eurocopter France Model SA-360C helicopters. This action requires replacement of the main gear box (MGB) input bevel pinion (bevel pinion). This amendment is prompted by service reports of bevel pinion fatigue cracking. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the MGB and a subsequent forced landing.

Which aircraft AD 97-26-18 applies to

MakesEurocopter

Part-conditional — 360A32-1021-20.

Specific model not stated in the provided applicability excerpt. Requires replacing main gearbox (MGB) bevel pinion P/N 360A32-1021-20 before it accumulates 900 hours TIS since installation/last MGB overhaul (or, if already at/above 900 hours, by 1,000 hours TIS), per Eurocopter France Mandatory SB 01.35 dated Jan 14, 1997; establishes a new 1,000-hour TIS retirement life for the bevel pinion.

Whether AD 97-26-18 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 97-26-18 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.