Airworthiness Directive 98-06-39
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS 332C, L, L1, and L2 Helicopters
What this AD requires
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Eurocopter France Model AS 332C, L, L1, and L2 helicopters. This action requires determining the thickness of the shim washers, inspecting certain cockpit door hinge tenons (hinge tenons) for cracks, and if a crack is found, replacing the hinge tenon with an airworthy hinge tenon. This amendment is prompted by several reports of cracked hinge tenons due to improper shimming. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect cracks in the hinge tenons due to unintended loading of the improperly shimmed tenons caused by closing the door, which may lead to separation of the door from the helicopter, impact with the main rotor or tail rotor system, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 98-06-39 applies to
Specific model not stated in the provided applicability excerpt (full model list is in the AD's preceding applicability provision, not captured here). Requires inspecting cockpit door hinge tenon shim-washer thickness and performing dye-penetrant inspection for cracks (thresholds at 3mm/3.5mm washer thickness) per Eurocopter SB 01.00.50 dated Aug 5, 1997; cracked tenons replaced before further flight, within 50 hours TIS.
Whether AD 98-06-39 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:
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.