# Proposed AD FAA-2010-0779: Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS350B3 and EC130 B4 Helicopters

- Type: Proposed airworthiness directive (not in force)
- Status: Became AD 2010-21-07
- Products: Eurocopter France
- Product type: Aircraft
- Action: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
- Published: August 11, 2010, 75 FR 48615
- Comments due: September 10, 2010
- Became: [AD 2010-21-07](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2010-21-07)
- Docket: FAA-2010-0779 (https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FAA-2010-0779, where comments are filed)
- Project: 2009-SW-84-AD
- FR document: 2010-19814
- Official PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/62/40/6240a352d84fe46c894a0d23acd481a21e45fd3486a636452d8631c5eb2ea290 (from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-08-11/pdf/2010-19814.pdf)
- Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/08/11/2010-19814/airworthiness-directives-eurocopter-france-ecf-model-as350b3-and-ec130-b4-helicopters
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/D47800E956A8A2D78625777C0051D777.0001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/proposed/FAA-2010-0779

## Summary

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified ECF model helicopters. This proposed AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. The MCAI AD states that a dormant failure of one of the two contactors 53Ka or 53Kb can occur following certain modifications. Failure of a contactor can prevent switching from "IDLE'' mode to "FLIGHT'' mode during autorotation training making it impossible to execute a power recovery and compelling the pilot to continue the autorotation to the ground. This condition, if not corrected, can lead to an unintended touchdown to the ground during a practice autorotation at a flight-idle power setting, damage to the helicopter, and injury to the occupants.

## Notices in this docket

- Aug 11, 2010: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). (first notice), FR document 2010-19814, comments due Sep 10, 2010 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/08/11/2010-19814/airworthiness-directives-eurocopter-france-ecf-model-as350b3-and-ec130-b4-helicopters)

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.