Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43541-43544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17387]



[[Page 43541]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-2271; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01166-R; 
Amendment 39-23128; AD 2025-18-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Leonardo S.p.A. Model A109E, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII 
helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report that certain manufacturer 
maintenance instructions for swashplate assembly installation specified 
incorrect torque values for certain swashplate nuts. This AD requires 
repetitively inspecting certain swashplate nuts for cracks, fretting, 
or slippage marks and, depending on the results, performing corrective 
actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 25, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 
25, 2025.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by October 27, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-2271; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material 
identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 
Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: [email protected]; 
website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website 
at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-2271.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Franklin, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (817) 222-5291; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-2271; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2025-01166-R'' at the beginning of your comments. The 
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Carl 
Franklin, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5291. Any commentary that the 
FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed 
in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2025-0131, dated June 16, 2025 (EASA 
AD 2025-0131) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 
condition on Leonardo S.p.A. Model A109E, A109LUH, A109S, AW109SP, 
A119, and AW119MKII helicopters. The MCAI states that the 
manufacturer's maintenance instructions for the swashplate assembly 
installation included improper torque values for affected swashplate 
nuts having part number NAS1805-4 that attach the swashplate support to 
the main transmission. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct 
the condition of the swashplate nuts, which if not addressed, could 
result in failure of the main rotor function and consequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-2271.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0131, which specifies procedures for 
repetitive visual inspections of the affected swashplate nuts for 
cracks, fretting, or slippage marks and, depending on the results, 
replacement of the affected nuts and reinstallation of the swashplate 
assembly. EASA AD 2025-0131 also prohibits reinstallation of the 
swashplate assembly on any helicopter using certain manufacturer 
maintenance instructions. EASA AD 2025-0131 also specifies that 
replacement of the affected swashplate nuts and reinstallation of the 
swashplate assembly constitutes terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections. This material is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 43542]]

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority 
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition 
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD 
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 
2025-0131, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except 
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of 
this AD. See ``Differences Between this AD and the MCAI'' for a 
discussion of the general differences included in this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the Referenced Material

    The MCAI applies to Leonardo Model A109LUH helicopters, whereas 
this AD does not because that model does not have an FAA type 
certificate.
    The MCAI specifies reinstallation of the swashplate assembly within 
200 flight hours after a replacement required by any inspection or 
within 2,400 flight hours after the effective date if replacement is 
not required. The MCAI states that reinstallation of the swashplate 
assembly is a terminating action for the inspection requirements of the 
MCAI. For this AD, the word ``reinstallation'' means 
``reconfiguration'' as reinstallation of the swashplate is required 
before return to service. This AD also does not require the 2,400 
flight hour swashplate assembly ``reconfiguration'' as this is 
considered a long-term action that would allow for prior opportunity 
for public comment. If replacement is not required, this AD will allow 
the swashplate assembly reconfiguration and corrective actions as 
optional terminating action for the inspection requirements of the AD. 
The FAA may consider future rulemaking with prior public comment on 
this action.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation 
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance 
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been 
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, 
EASA AD 2025-0131 is incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD 
requires compliance with EASA AD 2025-0131 in its entirety through that 
incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in 
the regulatory text of this AD. Using common terms that are the same as 
the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2025-0131 does not mean 
that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where 
the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance 
times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the 
section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 
2025-0131. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0131 for compliance will 
be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-2271 after 
this AD is published.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment 
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that 
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because improper torque value application on affected swashplate nuts 
that attach the swashplate support to the main transmission could lead 
to failure of the main rotor function, which could result in loss of 
control of the helicopter. The FAA has no information pertaining to the 
extent of fatigue damage on swashplate nuts that may currently exist in 
helicopters or how quickly the condition may propagate to failure, 
therefore, the initial instance of the inspections must be accomplished 
within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this 
AD. These helicopters average approximately 50 hours TIS a month with 
some over 100 hours TIS a month. Based on this, the initial inspection 
compliance time is shorter than the time necessary for the public to 
comment and for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
    In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, 
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and 
comment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 173 helicopters of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                 Action                          Labor cost           Parts cost      product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect affected swashplate nuts.......  4 work-hours x $85 per               $0            $340         $58,820
                                          hour = $340.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of helicopters 
that might need these replacements:

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                           On-Condition Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Cost per
            Action                Labor cost     Parts cost    product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace affected swashplate    40 work-hours x          $21       $3,421
 nuts and reconfigure           $85 per hour =
 swashplate assembly.           $3,400.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2025-18-01 Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters: Amendment 39-23128; Docket 
No. FAA-2025-2271; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01166-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 25, 
2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.A. Model A109E, A109S, AW109SP, 
A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 6220, Main Rotor 
Head.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that certain manufacturer 
maintenance instructions for swashplate assembly installation 
specified incorrect torque values for certain swashplate nuts. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct the condition of the 
swashplate nuts. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in failure of the main rotor function and consequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2025-0131, dated June 16, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0131).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0131

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0131 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0131 refers to flight hours (FH), this AD 
requires using hours time-in-service (TIS).
    (3) Where EASA AD 2025-0131 defines Group 1 helicopters as 
``A109E, A109LUH, A109S, AW109SP, A119 and AW119MKII helicopters, 
all s/n, as defined in Part I of the applicable ASB'', this AD 
requires replacing this text with ``A109E, A109LUH, A109S, AW109SP, 
A119 and AW119MKII helicopters, all s/n, as defined in Planning 
Information, paragraph A., Effectivity, Part I, of the applicable 
SB''.
    (4) Where EASA AD 2025-0131 states ``replace the damaged 
affected nuts with new nuts'', this AD requires replacing that text 
with ``replace the damaged affected nuts with unused nuts having 
part number NAS1805-4''.
    (5) Where EASA AD 2025-0131 states ``reinstall the swashplate 
assembly'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``reconfigure 
the swashplate assembly''.
    (6) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0131 requires 
reinstallation of the swashplate assembly and inspections and 
corrective actions for certain helicopters within 2,400 FH after the 
effective date of EASA AD 2025-0131, this AD allows it as optional 
terminating action for the inspection requirement of this AD.
    (7) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0131.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0131 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not require that action.

(j) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of 
this AD and email to [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local Flight Standards District Office/certificate holding 
district office.

(l) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Carl Franklin, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5291; email: 
[email protected].

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

[[Page 43544]]

    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0131, 
dated June 16, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 
000; email: [email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may 
find this EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on September 4, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-17387 Filed 9-8-25; 4:15 pm]
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