Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

Summary

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-01-05, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters. AD 2013-01-05 requires revising the Limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) supplement to reduce the starter generator operating current to 180 amperes (amps) and installing a placard in the instrument panel to indicate the revised limitation. Since the FAA issued AD 2013-01-05, the manufacturer determined the applicability needs to be revised to add helicopters equipped with certain part numbered starter generators and to remove helicopters with certain engines installed. This proposed AD would require revising the Limitations section of the RFM supplement of the existing RFM for the helicopter, to reduce the starter generator operating current to 180 amps and installing a placard in the instrument panel indicating the revised limitation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.