EASA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD), following the tragic accident which occurred in the United Kingdom on 27 October 2018 to an Leonardo AW169 helicopter.

The information available so far indicate that while the helicopter was on a take-off phase at low forward speed, a loss of yaw control was observed; an investigation is on-going to identify the root cause of the accident.

EASA AD requires, as a precautionary measure, a one-time visual inspection of the tail rotor servo-actuator installation and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s), and to report inspection results to Leonardo.

This AD must be considered an interim action, further mandatory action may follow owing to investigation progress.