Europe’s air transport safety body yesterday ordered a round of checks after an engine cover fell off an Airbus helicopter during a flight.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said the “cowling”, a removable cover for an aircraft engine and gearbox, had become detached from an AS365 aircraft.
EASA said the defect had been caused by “mounting stress” exerted on the cowling’s attachment fittings.
It said the fault could result in “damage to, or reduced control of, the helicopter and injury to persons on the ground”.
Airbus has issued its own alert service bulletin (ASB) calling for inspections to be carried on a number of models, including the H155.
The most recent information provided by Oil and Gas UK indicates that just two H155s are operating on the UK continental shelf.
EASA’s airworthiness directive (AD) states companies must carry out one-time checks on the cowling attachment fittings within 110 flight hours of the order’s effective date, which falls on April 14.
Airbus said in a statement: “Airbus Helicopters has issued an ASB for customers to carry out a one off inspection to the engine cowling attachment fittings of the AS365 and H155 aircraft. This was issued to ensure consistency across the fleet after an AS365 lost an engine cowling. As standard practice this has been followed up by an EASA AD.”