Airbus Helicopters has, almost since day one, pointed their finger directly at a suspension bar mounting issue. All restrictions were lifted 48 hrs after incident. EASB 53A058 (3 May 2016) directives are focused on mounting issues only. Fact is, Airbus Helicopters is the expert and authority on the ec225 (and 332/L2).
Pressure must be mounting for the AIBN to provide some evidence to support their implied thesis, that accident's root cause is somehow related to manufacturing or design. No evidence provided thus far. Not even a teaser. Again - none.
It is also odd that the AIBN seems to be dancing around the suspension bar problematics:
- Where is the front suspension bar, is it missing?
- Where is the lower front mounting bolt and safety pins, are they missing?
- What is the state of the lower front mounting bracket? undamaged, damaged, missing?
- Is damage of the suspension bars and brackets consistent with REDL? or is there a clear difference?