The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain models of Airbus Helicopters. This directive aims to improve safety by requiring the replacement of existing magnetic plugs in the main gear box with improved non-electrical magnetic plugs. These changes were prompted by the need to better collect metal particles, which could otherwise lead to the seizure of the main gear box and cause a loss of helicopter control. The directive, which becomes effective on April 1, 2021, references an AD from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and provides guidelines for compliance.
Simple Explanation
The FAA wants some Airbus helicopters to change a part called a "magnetic plug" in their engines to a better one so it can catch tiny metal pieces better and keep the helicopter safe when flying. This change needs to happen by April 1, 2021, to keep everything working correctly.