AD 82-10-01

82-10-01 SOCIETE NATIONALE INDUSTRIELLE AEROSPATIALE (SNIAS): Amendment 39-4373. Applies to Model AS350 and AS355 Series helicopters certificated in all categories that are equipped with tail rotor blades P/N 350A.12.0030.01, 02, 04, or 05 (Airworthiness Docket No. 82-ASW-16).

Compliance required before further flight after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours' time in service from the last inspection until the tail rotor blades attain 100 hours' or more total time in service since new or since replacement of the stainless steel leading edge strip.

To detect bond failure between each tail rotor blade body and the steel leading protective strip, inspect by tapping along the span and over the surface of the leading edge strip with a coin or similar device. Remove the affected tail rotor blade before further flight if a change in sound tone is found that indicates bond failure exceeds 10 percent of the strip bond area.

Equivalent means of compliance with this AD must be approved by the Chief, Aircraft Certification Staff, FAA Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, Brussels, Belgium.

(Aerospatiale Telex Service No. 2366 for all Model AS350 and AS355 operations dated February 4, 1982, pertains to this subject.)

This amendment becomes effective May 10, 1982.