Action
Final rule; request for comments.
Summary
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter France) Model AS365N3, EC155B, and EC155B1 helicopters with an external life raft in the footsteps with certain part-numbered junction units. This AD requires inspecting the junction units of the external life raft deployment system for corrosion, removing any corrosion, and performing certain measurements to determine whether the junction unit must be replaced. This AD is prompted by failure of a life raft deployment test and corrosion damage inside the left-hand junction unit. These actions are intended to prevent failure of an external life raft to deploy preventing evacuation of passengers during an emergency.