Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a broken hose of the draining system in the rear cargo compartment due to hot air leakage from an engine combustion chamber drain valve failure. This AD requires for certain helicopters operational inspections (checks) of each engine drain valve, inspection of each affected rear cargo compartment hose (hose), installation and repetitive inspections of thermal papers, and depending on the results of those inspections, corrective actions. This AD also requires for certain helicopters, inspection of the rear cargo compartment hoses in conjunction with the initial operational inspections (checks) and, depending on the results of the inspections, performing corrective actions. Additionally, this AD prohibits installing an affected hose on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.