No.

3552-P-20

SAFETY PROMOTION NOTICE

SUBJECT: STANDARD PRACTICES

Recommendations for torquing operations

For the attention of

AIRCRAFT Version(s)
CONCERNED Civil Military
EC120 B
AS350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, D L1
AS550 A2, C2, C3, U2
AS355 E, F, F1, F2, N, NP
AS555 AF, AN, SN, UF, UN, AP
EC130 B4, T2
SA365 / AS365 C1, C2, C3, N, N1, N2, N3 F, Fs, Fi, K, K2
AS565 MA, MB, SA, SB, UB, MBe
SA366 GA
EC155 B, B1
SA330 J Ba, L, Jm, S1, Sm
SA341 G B, C, D, E, F, H
SA342 J L, L1, M, M1, Ma
ALOUETTE II 313B, 3130, 318B, 318C, 3180
ALOUETTE III 316B, 316C, 3160, 319B
LAMA 315B
EC225 LP
EC725 AP
AS332 C, C1, L, L1, L2 B, B1, F1, M, M1
AS532 A2, U2, AC, AL, SC, UE, UL
EC175 B
EC339 KUH/Surion

C (C23, CB, CB-4, CB-5), D (DB, DBS, DB-4, DBS-4,

BO105 CBS-5 KLH, E-4
DBS-5), S (CS, CBS, CBS-4, CBS-5), LS A-3
A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2, C-2e, D-2, D-2m, D-3,
MBB-BK117 D-2m, D-3m
D-3m
T1, T2, T2+, T3, P1, P2, P2+, P3, EC635 T1, EC635 T2+,
EC135 EC635 T3, EC635 P2+, EC635 P3,
T3H, P3H, EC635 T3H, EC635 P3H

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 No. 3552-P-20
INTRODUCTION

The aim of this Safety Promotion Notice is to support the understanding of torquing practices by introducing four
explanatory videos available on the Airbus Helicopters website
(https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/safety/SafetyVideo-e-learnings.html#technicians) and on Dailymotion through
the QR codes and links given below. These videos neither intend to be exhaustive nor replace the documentation
(MTC 20-02-05-404 Assembly by screws and nuts). However, they are a complement intended to draw your
attention to the essential parts of the application, check and adjustment of a tightening torque.

The idea of introducing these information videos and this Safety Promotion Notice comes from a general
observation: numerous incidents/accidents are due to errors committed during the application of tightening torque.
Compliance with the good practices is one of the paths that enable reducing the risk and improving safety of
maintenance operators and passengers. These good practices are part of a wider approach in which, for example,
general workshop organization, time pressure or operator fatigue are factors that contribute to errors that can have
severe consequences. These other contributing factors are described, together with recommendations, in Safety
Promotion Notice No. 3399-P-20 "Visual Inspection".

Good practices common to the application, check and adjustment of a

tightening torque
https://dai.ly/k5Yl3Sf1xQRLDAw6iXr

This video shows:

• The check of the correcting factor for the procedure on an assembly with grease or
self-locking nut.
• The smooth and progressive application of the tightening torque and the position of the hands on the rotational
axis of the wrench and the grip.

Airbus Helicopters recommends the use of a digital torque

wrench to apply, check and adjust a tightening torque.

All the torque wrenches must be calibrated on a regular basis.

Preparation common to the application, check and adjustment of a tightening torque

For all the practices related to tightening torque, it is necessary to:
• Remove the seal using a plastic scraper
• Clean the zone using a cloth
• Remove the split pin or any equivalent locking component.

All these components can be dangerous in terms of FOD if they are forgotten
in the work zone. It is thus appropriate to provide all the necessary means in
terms of organization and support for the storage of all the tools and
consumables. (For example, the use of red portable bunks).

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 No. 3552-P-20
Application of tightening torque

https://dai.ly/k5qCFlVCuF9vByw6iXt

The essential steps of a torque application are as follows:

• Installation of washers, including a check of the procedure for the assembly order and
direction
• Cross-marking of the bolt end to make the installation of the split pin easier
• Installation of the nut that must make full contact
• Setting of the wrench to the minimum value defined in the procedure
• Application of the tightening torque without exceeding the maximum torque value to align the nut slot with the
split pin hole.

Check of the tightening torque

https://dai.ly/k5Y7dPxQDmsXZJw6iXo

The first essential step of the torque check is to apply a mark with a red felt pen that covers
the nut/screw assembly and the fixed support. The setting of the torque wrench to the
minimum value is also required for the preliminary steps.

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 No. 3552-P-20
Then, the check of the tightening torque can show 3 scenarios:

• If the operator reaches the minimum torque value before alignment of the marks, torquing continues until the
marks are aligned.

• If the operator exceeds the mark before reaching the minimum torque value, but without being below 15% of
the minimum torque value, the operator applies the torque again, without exceeding the maximum torque
value.

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 No. 3552-P-20
• If the operator exceeds the mark before reaching the minimum torque value while being below 15% of the
minimum torque value, the operator removes the component for inspection.

The operator then inspects the screw/nut assembly to make sure

that it is in good condition (suspicions of fretting).

Adjustment of the tightening torque

https://dai.ly/k2hm2P8kPwQqKCw6iXn

Adjustment of the tightening torque requires:

• The application of a mark with a red felt pen that covers the nut/screw assembly and the
fixed support (see Check of the tightening torque)
• Loosening of the nut by a quarter of a turn
• Setting of the wrench to the minimum value
• Application of the tightening torque (see Application of the tightening torque).

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