Action
Final rule.
Summary
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-16- 51, which applied to certain Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters (Airbus)) Model SA330J helicopters. AD 2010-16-51 required inspecting for a gap between the main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan assembly (fan) rotor blade and the upper section of the guide vane bearing housing and depending on the results, replacing the two fan rotor shaft bearings with two airworthy bearings. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2010-16-51 and also requires installing improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearings and repetitively inspecting the new improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearings, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. AD 2010-16-51 was prompted by the separation of a fan rotor blade that caused puncture holes in the transmission deck. This new AD was prompted by the development of an improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearing design. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.