AD 2013-20-51

final rule
Data completeness: 70%

Airworthiness Directives; AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters

AD Number
2013-20-51
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Docket No. FAA-2013-0881
FR Citation
78 FR 63850

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Airworthiness Directives; AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Helicopters

Unsafe Condition

Cracking on Thomas coupling nuts that connect the flexible disc coupling with the splined adapter on the tail rotor drive shaft, resulting from a production deficiency (hydrogen embrittlement).

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Visually inspect each Thomas coupling nut, P/N MS21042L4, along the tail rotor drive shaft line for a crack. If any nut is cracked, replace all nuts with nuts, P/N NAS1805-4, before further flight. Replace all nuts, P/N MS21042L4, with nuts, P/N NAS1805-4, within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 30 days, whichever occurs first. Prohibit installing a Thomas coupling nut, P/N MS21042L4, on any tail rotor drive shaft line.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

Before further flight for inspection and replacement if cracked; within 10 hours TIS or 30 days for replacement of all nuts, whichever occurs first.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109A, A109A II, A109C, A109E, A109K2, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 6, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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