AD NUMBER: 2003-26-04 MANUFACTURER: Agusta SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2003-26-04 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109E helicopters. This action requires certain inspections of the rod-end of the main rotor head damper for freedom of movement, and depending on the torque required to move the rod-end, either further inspection for a crack or replacing the rod-end. This amendment is prompted by reports of rod-end fractures due to fatigue failure resulting in increased helicopter vibrations. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the rod-end, extreme vibrations, and a subsequent forced landing or loss of control