AD 81-20-03

final rule

Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters

AD Number
81-20-03
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.
Technical illustration of a helicopter rotor hub assembly
Problem area Rotor system

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft Agusta S.p.A. A109A Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters
aircraft Agusta S.p.A. A109A II Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters

Unsafe Condition

Failure of a tail rotor drive shaft support bearing (P/N 109-0424-01-1) could lead to tail rotor drive shaft failure and hazardous loss of directional control.

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

Required Actions

Visually check all seven tail rotor drive shaft support bearings daily for damage, overheat, looseness, slippage, or loss of lubricant. If issues are found, inspect, relubricate, or replace bearings and associated parts per Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30 steps 1-4. Inspect and relubricate or replace bearings every 600 hours time in service, starting within 25 hours after the effective date.

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

Compliance Time

Before the first flight of each day after the effective date of this AD for daily checks; within 25 hours' time in service after the effective date and thereafter every 600 hours' time in service for inspections and relubrication.

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

Affected Aircraft

Agusta S.p.A. Model A109A and A109A II helicopters with tail rotor drive shaft support bearings P/N 109-0424-01-1 installed.

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

Federal Register Abstract

Drive Shaft Support Bearings

Applicability Source Text

Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - DRS_81-20-03.html
Copy URL
Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
81-20-03
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters
Subject:
Drive Shaft Support Bearings
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
11/12/1981
Make:
Agusta S.p.A.
Model:
A109A | A109A II
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 81-20-03
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:   39-4247

AD NUMBER:   81-20-03

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:   Effective November 12, 1981.

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
81-20-03 COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Amendment 39- 4247. Applies to Model A109A helicopters certificated in all categories with tail rotor drive shaft support bearings P/N 109-0424-01-1 installed (7 places). Compliance required as follows, unless already accomplished.

To prevent hazardous loss of directional control due to failure of a tail rotor drive shaft support bearing and subsequent failure of the tail rotor drive shaft, accomplish the following:

a. Before the first flight of each day after the effective date of this AD, visually check all seven tail rotor drive shaft support bearings, P/N 109-0424-01-1, for general condition, security, excessive play, slippage, or loss of lubricant. If any signs of damage, overheat, looseness, slippage, or loss of lubricant exist, the tail rotor drive shaft and all bearings and associated collars, retention rings, and dust boots must be further inspected and relubricated, or replaced as applicable, in accordance with steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30, dated March 25, 1981, or an FAA-approved equivalent, prior to further flight.

b. Within the next 25 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 600 hours' time in service, inspect and relubricate, or replace as applicable, the tail rotor shaft, bearings, collars, and associated parts, in accordance with steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30, dated March 25, 1981, or FAA-approved equivalent. Defective parts found during this activity must be replaced with serviceable like parts prior to further flight.

The daily check required by paragraph a. of this AD may be performed by pilots authorized under FAR 43.3(h) to perform preventative maintenance on this helicopter provided:

c. The pilot's logbook has been endorsed by a properly rated mechanic stating that the pilot has been trained to conduct the check required by this AD; and

d. The rotorcraft is equipped with hinged inspection access panels located in the cooling fan cowl (for Nos. 1 and 2 bearings), over the tail boom section (for Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 bearings) and in the tail rotor vertical fin fairing (for No. 7 bearing). NOTE: Bearings are numbered from front to rear.

See FAR 91.173 for the requirements regarding the listing of compliance with paragraphs A and B of this AD in the aircraft's maintenance records.

Any equivalent method of compliance with this AD must be approved by the Chief, Aircraft Certification Staff, AEU-100, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, Brussels, Belgium, or by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Flight Standards Division, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 1689, Fort Worth, Texas 76101.

Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and FAR 21.199 to fly aircraft to a base where the inspections required by paragraph b. of this AD (initial compliance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30) may be accomplished.

This amendment becomes effective November 12, 1981, for all persons except those to whom it was made immediately effective by priority mail AD No. 81-20-03 dated September 29, 1981.

FOOTER:

Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_81-20-03.html
Copy URL
Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
81-20-03
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters
Subject:
Drive Shaft Support Bearings
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
11/12/1981
Make:
Agusta S.p.A.
Model:
A109A | A109A II
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 81-20-03
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:   39-4247

AD NUMBER:   81-20-03

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Model A109A Helicopters

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:   Effective November 12, 1981.

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
81-20-03 COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE GIOVANNI AGUSTA: Amendment 39- 4247. Applies to Model A109A helicopters certificated in all categories with tail rotor drive shaft support bearings P/N 109-0424-01-1 installed (7 places). Compliance required as follows, unless already accomplished.

To prevent hazardous loss of directional control due to failure of a tail rotor drive shaft support bearing and subsequent failure of the tail rotor drive shaft, accomplish the following:

a. Before the first flight of each day after the effective date of this AD, visually check all seven tail rotor drive shaft support bearings, P/N 109-0424-01-1, for general condition, security, excessive play, slippage, or loss of lubricant. If any signs of damage, overheat, looseness, slippage, or loss of lubricant exist, the tail rotor drive shaft and all bearings and associated collars, retention rings, and dust boots must be further inspected and relubricated, or replaced as applicable, in accordance with steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30, dated March 25, 1981, or an FAA-approved equivalent, prior to further flight.

b. Within the next 25 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 600 hours' time in service, inspect and relubricate, or replace as applicable, the tail rotor shaft, bearings, collars, and associated parts, in accordance with steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30, dated March 25, 1981, or FAA-approved equivalent. Defective parts found during this activity must be replaced with serviceable like parts prior to further flight.

The daily check required by paragraph a. of this AD may be performed by pilots authorized under FAR 43.3(h) to perform preventative maintenance on this helicopter provided:

c. The pilot's logbook has been endorsed by a properly rated mechanic stating that the pilot has been trained to conduct the check required by this AD; and

d. The rotorcraft is equipped with hinged inspection access panels located in the cooling fan cowl (for Nos. 1 and 2 bearings), over the tail boom section (for Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 bearings) and in the tail rotor vertical fin fairing (for No. 7 bearing). NOTE: Bearings are numbered from front to rear.

See FAR 91.173 for the requirements regarding the listing of compliance with paragraphs A and B of this AD in the aircraft's maintenance records.

Any equivalent method of compliance with this AD must be approved by the Chief, Aircraft Certification Staff, AEU-100, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, Brussels, Belgium, or by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Flight Standards Division, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 1689, Fort Worth, Texas 76101.

Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and FAR 21.199 to fly aircraft to a base where the inspections required by paragraph b. of this AD (initial compliance with Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-30) may be accomplished.

This amendment becomes effective November 12, 1981, for all persons except those to whom it was made immediately effective by priority mail AD No. 81-20-03 dated September 29, 1981.

FOOTER:

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Always verify with official sources.