EASA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD), following the tragic accident which occurred in the United Kingdom on 27th October 2018 to an Leonardo AW169 helicopter.
The information available so far indicate that while the helicopter was on a take-off phase at low forward speed, a loss of yaw control was observed; an investigation is on-going to identify the root cause of the accident.
This AD supersedes the preceding ADs published 7th November 2018 and 19th November 2018. It retains most of the requirements of the previous ADs and mandates in addition newly published Alert Service Bulletins from Leonardo, which provide instructions for inspection and breakaway torque check of the tail rotor (TR) duplex bearing, inspection and reinstallation of the TR servo-actuator castellated nut and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s). This AD also defines conditions for installation of TR servo-actuators.
This AD must still be considered an interim action and further mandatory action may follow owing to investigation progress.
