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Two Eurocopter models face checks after cracks appear

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it had
ordered regular inspections around the base of the rotor blades
of Eurocopter's EC 135 models after cracks were detected in a
total of three helicopters.

The twin-engined civil helicopter is sold worldwide and
extensively used by emergency services.

"This condition, if not detected, could lead to further
crack propagation, possibly resulting in main rotor hub failure
and consequent loss of the helicopter," EASA said in an
emergency airworthiness directive.

In a separate emergency notice, it followed up on the
ditching earlier this month of an EC 225 Super Puma helicopter
in the North Sea.

The helicopter's crew put it down on water with 14 people on
board on May 10 after seeing an oil pressure warning light.

The incident led to the temporary grounding of Super Pumas
flown by the British operator of the helicopter involved in the
ditching, Bond Offshore Helicopters.

EASA said preliminary investigations into the cause of the
incident had discovered a crack on a shaft inside the gearbox.

The agency ordered operators to monitor data from a
vibration monitoring system and restrict flights to daytime
whenever such a system is not installed on their Super Pumas.

Bond Offshore Helicopters said it had already implemented
the recommendations.

A spokeswoman for Eurocopter, the world's largest civil
helicopter manufacturer, said that in both cases the two types
of helicopter remained safe to fly.

Both investigations are still under way, she said.

"The safety of (both) helicopters is confirmed and flights
are not suspended," the spokeswoman added.

Typically, such air safety directives incorporate
recommendations already made by the manufacturer.

Eurocopter is the largest division of EADS behind Airbus and
space company Astrium. It had revenues of 5.4 billion euros
($6.9 billion)in 2011 and has an order book worth 13.9 billion.