FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ISSUES RULE: AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; LEONARDO S.P.A. HELICOPTERS

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Federal Aviation Administration has issued a rule called: Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters.

The rule was published in the Federal Register on May 12 by Steven W. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

Summary: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.A. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of an electrical failure of the starter-generator, due to a rupture of the drive shaft, which resulted in a partial loss of battery power. This AD requires installing a battery discharge detector and revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for the helicopter. These a...