AD 2008-14-02 R1
final rule
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft | Agusta S.p.A. | AB139 | Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters |
| aircraft | Agusta S.p.A. | AW139 | Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters |
Unsafe Condition
Fatigue cracks in the fuselage frame 5700 middle section could lead to structural failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Required Actions
Inspect the fuselage frame 5700 middle section for a crack within 10 hours time-in-service or upon accumulating 100 hours time-in-service since new, whichever occurs later. Repeat inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time-in-service. Repair any crack before further flight using FAA-approved procedures.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Compliance Time
within 10 hours time-in-service or upon accumulating 100 hours time-in-service since new, whichever occurs later; repeat inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time-in-service; repair before further flight
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Affected Aircraft
Agusta S.p.A. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters except those with LH frame station 5700 P/N 3P5338A13354 and RH frame station 5700 P/N 3P5338A13454 installed.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Federal Register Abstract
Fuselage, Main Frame
Applicability Source Text
Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - 2008-14-02 R1.pdf Copy URL Document Versions Feedback DetailsAttachments/Public Comments AD Number: 2008-14-02 R1 Document Type: AD Final Rules Docket Number: FAA-2008-0256 Subject Heading: Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters Subject: Fuselage, Main Frame Status: Current Citation: Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014) Citation Publish Date: 12/12/2014 Effective Date: 01/16/2015 Make: Agusta S.p.A. Model: AB139 | AW139 Product Type: Aircraft Product Subtype: Rotorcraft Affected AD: Superseded AD: 2008-14-02 Affected By: Superseded By: Service/Office: Office of Primary Responsibility: CFR Part Reference: Part 39 Comments: Automatic Zoom Actual Size Page Fit Page Width 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 200% 300% 400% 125% of 7 1 [Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 73801-73803] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-28913] –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2008-0256; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-01-AD; Amendment 39-18046; AD 2008-14-02 R1] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SUMMARY: We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-14-02 for Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2008-14-02 required inspecting the fuselage frame to detect fatigue cracks which could lead to structural failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Since we issued AD 2008-14-02, Agusta developed a frame reinforcement modification, which supports extending the interval for inspecting the fuselage frame for a fatigue crack. This new AD requires inspecting the fuselage frame for a crack and reduces the applicability from AD 2008-14-02 to exclude helicopters with the frame reinforcement modification. The actions of this AD are intended to detect a fatigue crack that could result in failure of the fuselage frame and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2015. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of August 14, 2008 (73 FR 39572, July 10, 2008). ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact AgustaWestland, Product Support Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015 Lonate Pozzolo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Maurizio D'Angelo; telephone 39-0331-664757; fax 39-0331-664680; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bulletins. You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 2 holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email sharon.y.miles@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to revise AD 2008-14-02, Amendment 39-15597 (73 FR 39572, July 10, 2008) (AD 2008-14-02), for Agusta Model AB 139 and AW 139 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2013 (78 FR 40640). The NPRM proposed to retain all requirements of AD 2008-14-02 but remove from the applicability section any helicopter modified by installing structural reinforcement skins in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-089, dated February 19, 2010 (BT 139-089). The NPRM proposed to continue to require initially inspecting the fuselage frame 5700 middle section within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), or upon accumulating 100 hours TIS since new, whichever occurs later, for a crack. The NPRM also proposed to continue to require repeating this inspection at intervals not exceeding 100 hours TIS, and, if there is a crack, before further flight, repairing the crack in accordance with FAA-approved procedures. The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2006-0357R1, dated April 22, 2010, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Agusta Model AB 139 and AW 139 helicopters. EASA advised that tests have shown that the Agusta AB/AW 139's fuselage frame 5700 middle section is prone to fatigue damage. EASA issued AD No. 2006-0357R1 to revise EASA AD No. 2006-0357, dated November 29, 2006, by removing Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters modified with the structural reinforced frames from the applicability requirements of the fatigue crack inspection. Comments After our NPRM (78 FR 40640, July 8, 2013), was published, we received a comment from one commenter. Request One commenter requested that the Applicability section include an exception for Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with Main Cabin serial numbers (S/Ns) ''TA1721 and subsequent,'' and ''PZL219 and subsequent.'' The commenter proposed this change because the specified helicopters have left-hand (LH) frame station 5700 part number (P/N) 3P5338A13354 and right-hand (RH) frame station 5700 P/N 3P5338A13454 installed. We disagree that such a change is necessary. Paragraph (a) of the AD states that it does not apply to helicopters with LH frame station 5700, P/N 3P5338A13354, and RH frame station 5700, P/N 3P5338A13454, installed. Thus, helicopters with the specified main cabin S/Ns are already excepted from the applicability of this AD.
Document Text
Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - 2008-14-02 R1.pdf Copy URL Document Versions Feedback DetailsAttachments/Public Comments AD Number: 2008-14-02 R1 Document Type: AD Final Rules Docket Number: FAA-2008-0256 Subject Heading: Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters Subject: Fuselage, Main Frame Status: Current Citation: Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014) Citation Publish Date: 12/12/2014 Effective Date: 01/16/2015 Make: Agusta S.p.A. Model: AB139 | AW139 Product Type: Aircraft Product Subtype: Rotorcraft Affected AD: Superseded AD: 2008-14-02 Affected By: Superseded By: Service/Office: Office of Primary Responsibility: CFR Part Reference: Part 39 Comments: Automatic Zoom Actual Size Page Fit Page Width 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 200% 300% 400% 125% of 7 1 [Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 73801-73803] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-28913] –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2008-0256; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-01-AD; Amendment 39-18046; AD 2008-14-02 R1] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SUMMARY: We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-14-02 for Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2008-14-02 required inspecting the fuselage frame to detect fatigue cracks which could lead to structural failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Since we issued AD 2008-14-02, Agusta developed a frame reinforcement modification, which supports extending the interval for inspecting the fuselage frame for a fatigue crack. This new AD requires inspecting the fuselage frame for a crack and reduces the applicability from AD 2008-14-02 to exclude helicopters with the frame reinforcement modification. The actions of this AD are intended to detect a fatigue crack that could result in failure of the fuselage frame and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2015. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of August 14, 2008 (73 FR 39572, July 10, 2008). ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact AgustaWestland, Product Support Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015 Lonate Pozzolo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Maurizio D'Angelo; telephone 39-0331-664757; fax 39-0331-664680; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bulletins. You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 2 holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email sharon.y.miles@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to revise AD 2008-14-02, Amendment 39-15597 (73 FR 39572, July 10, 2008) (AD 2008-14-02), for Agusta Model AB 139 and AW 139 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2013 (78 FR 40640). The NPRM proposed to retain all requirements of AD 2008-14-02 but remove from the applicability section any helicopter modified by installing structural reinforcement skins in accordance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-089, dated February 19, 2010 (BT 139-089). The NPRM proposed to continue to require initially inspecting the fuselage frame 5700 middle section within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), or upon accumulating 100 hours TIS since new, whichever occurs later, for a crack. The NPRM also proposed to continue to require repeating this inspection at intervals not exceeding 100 hours TIS, and, if there is a crack, before further flight, repairing the crack in accordance with FAA-approved procedures. The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2006-0357R1, dated April 22, 2010, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Agusta Model AB 139 and AW 139 helicopters. EASA advised that tests have shown that the Agusta AB/AW 139's fuselage frame 5700 middle section is prone to fatigue damage. EASA issued AD No. 2006-0357R1 to revise EASA AD No. 2006-0357, dated November 29, 2006, by removing Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters modified with the structural reinforced frames from the applicability requirements of the fatigue crack inspection. Comments After our NPRM (78 FR 40640, July 8, 2013), was published, we received a comment from one commenter. Request One commenter requested that the Applicability section include an exception for Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with Main Cabin serial numbers (S/Ns) ''TA1721 and subsequent,'' and ''PZL219 and subsequent.'' The commenter proposed this change because the specified helicopters have left-hand (LH) frame station 5700 part number (P/N) 3P5338A13354 and right-hand (RH) frame station 5700 P/N 3P5338A13454 installed. We disagree that such a change is necessary. Paragraph (a) of the AD states that it does not apply to helicopters with LH frame station 5700, P/N 3P5338A13354, and RH frame station 5700, P/N 3P5338A13454, installed. Thus, helicopters with the specified main cabin S/Ns are already excepted from the applicability of this AD.
Source: Official FAA Source ↗
Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026
Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain
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