COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES Eurocopter SA341 and SA342 (Gazelle) Series Helicopters AD/GAZELLE/21 Main Rotor Head Pitch Change Rod Inspection Applicability: All model SA341 G and SA342 J helicopters. 3/99 TX Requirement: 1. Perform a visual check of the body of every main rotor head pitch change rod to detect corrosion. 2. Perform a visual inspection of the inside of the body of every main rotor pitch change rod to detect corrosion. 3. Repair or replace the main rotor head pitch change rod. Note: DGAC 1998-551-039 (A) dated 13 January 1999 refers. Compliance: 1. At the next daily check after the effective date of this Directive. 2. Within ten flight hours or seven days of the effective date of this directive, whichever is the sooner, or, when the inspection at requirement 1. above reveals corrosion. 3. Before further flight, any corrosion detected by the inspections at requirements 1 or 2 above must be repaired in accordance with the manufacturer's repair manual. If the corrosion is not repairable (ie. outside manufacturer's repair limits) the pitch change rod must be replaced with a serviceable item. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 17 February 1999. Background: Recent discovery of corrosion affecting a rotor head pitch change rod has lead to the issuance of a Country of Origin Airworthiness Directive. Failure of the component in flight could lead to the loss of the helicopter.