Airworthiness Directive 99-09-06
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS-350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D Helicopters, and Model AS 355E, F, F1, F2 and N Helicopters
What this AD requires
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Eurocopter France Model AS-350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D helicopters, and Model AS 355E, F, F1, F2 and N helicopters. This action requires inspecting the tail rotor spider plate bearing (bearing) for the proper bearing rotational torque, axial play, and for any brinelling of the bearing. This amendment is prompted by service difficulty reports citing the need to prematurely replace bearings due to wear, and by two in-flight incidents of increased tail rotor vibration levels due to bearing wear. This condition, if not corrected, could result in seizure of the bearing, loss of tail rotor control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Which aircraft AD 99-09-06 applies to
Tail rotor spider-plate bearing seizure-prevention AD (rotational torque/axial-play/binding checks; replace pitch change spider plate assembly if out of criteria); actions per Eurocopter SB 05.00.29 (applicable to Model AS-350 helicopters) or SB 05.00.30 (applicable to Model AS 355 helicopters), both dated February 8, 1999.
Whether AD 99-09-06 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.