FAA orders · airworthiness directive · current

2000-05-11: Tail Rotor Blades

FAA order 2000-05-11 is an airworthiness directive in force since March 24, 2000. The FAA's subject line: Tail Rotor Blades. It names Aerospatiale SA315, S N I A S SE 3130, Sud Aviation SA 318: about 34 aircraft on the U.S. register today across them, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: rotorcraft systems.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product: Aircraft
Makes: Airbus Helicopters
Models: SA 3180-Alouette Astazou, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, SA 318C-Alouette Astazou, SA.315B Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette III, SE 3130-Alouette II, SE 313B-Alouette II, SE.3160 Alouette III
On this site: Aerospatiale SA315 22 registered
S N I A S SE 3130 7 registered
Sud Aviation SA 318 5 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since: March 24, 2000
Published: March 9, 2000 (signed March 1, 2000)
Docket: 99-SW-76-AD
Status: Current
The FAA's document: Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Eurocopter France Model SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160, and SA 3180 helicopters that have certain tail rotor blades (blades) installed. This action requires reducing the service life of those blades to 400 hours time-in-service (TIS). This amendment is prompted by the discovery that 10 blades were manufactured incorrectly. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (2,783 characters)

AD 2000-05-11  EUROCOPTER FRANCE:  Amendment 39-11620.  Docket No. 99-SW-76-AD. 
	Applicability: Eurocopter France SA.315B, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE 313B, SE 3130, SE.3160, and SA 3180 helicopters, with tail rotor blades, part number (P/N) 3160S34.11.000.00, serial numbers (S/N) 23484 through 23493, installed, certificated in any category. 

	NOTE 1:  This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD.  For helicopters that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD.  The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it. 

	Compliance:  Required before further flight, unless accomplished previously. 

	To prevent failure of a tail rotor blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following: 

	(a)	Remove each tail rotor blade, P/N 3160S34.11.000.00, S/N 23484 through 23493, upon reaching 400 hours time-in-service (TIS).  Replace each blade with an airworthy tail rotor blade. 

	(b)	This AD revises the Limitations Section of the maintenance manual by establishing a new life limit of 400 hours TIS for the tail rotor blades. 

	(c)	An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA.  Operators shall submit their requests through an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and then send it to the Manager, Regulations Group. 

	NOTE 2:  Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Regulations Group. 

	(d)	Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. 

	(e)	This amendment becomes effective on March 24, 2000. 

	NOTE 3:  The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD T1999-127-057(A); AD T1999-128-060(A); and AD T1999-129-043(A), all dated March 25, 1999 and AD 1999-129-043(A), AD 1999-127-057(A), and AD 1999-128-060(A), all dated April 7, 1999.

Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of October 7, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2000-05-11.json · aircraft systems.