NTSB Recommends FAA Mandate for Eurocopter Rotor Blade Inspections

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released Recipient Recommendation MIA07FA116, designated as A-11-035, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This recommendation calls for the FAA to require Eurocopter to update its aircraft maintenance manuals for all helicopters equipped with main rotor blades bearing part numbers 355A11-0020 and/or 355A11-0030. The proposed revision would mandate that these updated manuals include specific visual inspections of the trailing edge of the blades’ upper and lower skin surfaces as part of the daily flight-related check. These inspections are intended to identify any cracks or surface deterioration and disfiguration. By implementing this requirement, the NTSB aims to ensure that potential structural issues on these critical components are detected early through routine operational checks rather than waiting for scheduled maintenance intervals. The recommendation highlights the importance of rigorous daily verification procedures to maintain airworthiness standards for these specific aircraft configurations.