FAA mandates exhaust clamp inspections on Leonardo AW139 fleet

The Federal Aviation Administration adopts a new airworthiness directive aimed at certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and Model AW139 helicopters.

The regulatory intervention stems directly from an operational report documenting an incident where an engine nozzle exhaust duct clamp became separated from the engine nozzle duct. Following this detachment, the displaced clamp came to rest directly upon the helicopter's tail rotor drive shaft.

To resolve this identified unsafe condition on the affected rotorcraft, the directive mandates repetitive inspections targeting specific clamp assemblies. Depending on the precise results observed during these mandated inspections, operators are required to perform parts replacement.

In addition to these recurring inspection and replacement obligations, the measure introduces strict installation prohibitions. The installation of an affected clamp assembly is prohibited on these helicopters unless certain specific requirements established by the authority are fully met.