Is AD 98-04-40 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

No — AD 98-04-40 is a one-time directive. Verify it was complied with in the aircraft's records.

Which aircraft does AD 98-04-40 apply to?

AD 98-04-40 applies to Eurocopter France — models SA-315B, SA-316B, SA-316C, SA-319B, SE-3160, SA-315, SA-316, SA-319. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 98-04-40

one-time

Official AD 98-04-40 · FR doc 98-10175 · 1998-04-17 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, and SE.3160 Helicopters

What this AD requires

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-04-40 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Eurocopter France Model SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, and SE.3160 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, for certain blades, inspecting each blade spar for cracks using a dye-penetrant inspection, and visually inspecting each blade cuff for cracks. If a crack is discovered in either a blade spar or cuff, removal and replacement of the blade with an airworthy blade is required prior to further flight. This amendment is prompted by an accident in which a Model SA.315B helicopter lost a main rotor blade (blade) just prior to take-off. The cause of the blade failure was determined to be fatigue cracks that originated from the outboard blade-to-cuff attachment bolt hole and progressed through the blade spar and cuff. This condition, if not corrected, could result in separation of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Which aircraft AD 98-04-40 applies to

MakesEurocopter France

ModelsSA-315B, SA-316B, SA-316C, SA-319B, SE-3160, SA-315, SA-316, SA-319

Part-conditional — 3160S11-10000, 3160S11-30000, 3160S11-35000, 3160S11-40000, 3160S11-45000, 3160S11-50000, 3160S11-55000.

Applies only to helicopters with main rotor blades P/N 3160S11-10000/-30000/-35000/-40000/-45000/-50000/-55000 (all dash numbers) installed; compliance required for blades with 400 or more hours time-in-service.

Whether AD 98-04-40 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 98-04-40 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.