Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332C, L, and L1 Helicopters

Riepilogo

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. This action requires, before further flight, inserting statements into the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) prohibiting flight under certain atmospheric conditions. Also, this AD requires inspecting the bullet seal on the multi-purpose air intake (MPAI) to determine the pressure and, if the pressure is less than 3 bars on one or both of the sides, replacing the P2 pipe with an airworthy P2 pipe within a specified time interval. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of unairworthy P2 pipes, which might cause insufficient inflation of the bullet seal on the MPAI. This condition, if not detected, could restrict airflow into the engine inlet during flight in icing conditions, resulting in loss of engine power and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.