FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ISSUES PROPOSED RULE: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; AIRBUS HELICOPTERS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Federal Aviation Administration has issued a proposed rule called: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 17 by Steven W. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

Summary: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS 355-F, AS 355-F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a structural crack in the vertical attachment spar of the tail fin. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of certain vertical upper fin spars and, depending on the results, corrective action. Th...