Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45909-45911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18491]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0750; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01325-R; 
Amendment 39-23139; AD 2025-18-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 D-3 
helicopters. This AD is prompted by reports of momentary direct current 
(DC) power interruption in flight of both essential busses. This AD 
requires revising the existing rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) to 
incorporate an emergency and malfunction procedure. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 29, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference

[[Page 45910]]

of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 29, 2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-0750; 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 
address for Docket Operations is 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> 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 the EASA 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-2025-0750.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan McCully, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 
474-5548; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain AHD Model MBB-
BK 117 D-3 helicopters. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register 
on May 9, 2025 (90 FR 19662). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0208, 
dated October 11, 2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD 2022-0208) (also 
referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that occurrences were 
reported of momentary DC power interruption in flight of both essential 
busses. The investigation is ongoing to identify the root cause of this 
occurrence. In the interim, AHD developed emergency and malfunction 
procedures to address this issue.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the RFM to 
incorporate an emergency and malfunction procedure. The owner/operator 
(pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate may revise the 
existing RFM for the helicopter and must enter compliance with the 
applicable paragraph of the AD into the helicopter maintenance records 
in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). This is an 
exception to the FAA's standard maintenance regulations. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of control of the 
helicopter or reduced situational awareness.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-0750.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    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 reviewed the relevant 
data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 
None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0208, which specifies procedures for 
revising the RFM by incorporating an emergency and malfunction 
procedure, informing all flight crews, and thereafter, operating the 
helicopter accordingly. This material provides updated battery 
discharging procedures, which includes a warning in case of total 
electrical failure.
    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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI applies to Model MBB-BK117 D-3m helicopters, whereas this 
AD does not because that model does not have an FAA type certificate.
    The MCAI requires operators to ``inform all flight crew'' of the 
revisions to the RFM, and thereafter to ``operate the helicopter 
accordingly.'' However, this AD does not require those actions as those 
actions are already required by FAA regulations. FAA regulations 
require operators furnish to pilots any changes to the RFM (for 
example, 14 CFR 135.21) and to ensure the pilots are familiar with the 
RFM (for example, 14 CFR 91.505). As with any other flight crew 
training requirement, training on the updated RFM content is tracked by 
the operators and recorded in each pilot's training record, which is 
available for the FAA to review. FAA regulations also require pilots to 
follow the procedures in the existing RFM including all updates. 
Therefore, including a requirement in this AD to inform the flight crew 
and operate the helicopter according to the revised RFM would be 
redundant and unnecessary.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. If final 
action is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 27 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per hour. Based on these 
numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD.
    Revising the existing RFM for the helicopter would take 1 work-hour 
for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and $2,295 for the U.S. 
fleet.

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.

[[Page 45911]]

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,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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:

2025-18-12 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39-23139; 
Docket No. FAA-2025-0750; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01325-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 29, 2025.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 
Model MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters, certificated in any category, as 
identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-
0208, dated October 11, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0208).

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2432, Battery/
Charger System.

 (e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of momentary direct current (DC) 
power interruption in flight of both essential busses. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address DC power interruption through updated 
procedures. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
loss of control of the helicopter or reduced situational awareness.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0208. The owner/operator (pilot) 
holding at least a private pilot certificate may revise the existing 
rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for the helicopter and must enter 
compliance with this paragraph of the AD into the helicopter 
maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 
91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 
91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.

 (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0208

    (1) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-0208 specifies to inform 
all flight crews and operate the helicopter accordingly, this AD 
does not require those actions as those actions are already required 
by existing FAA operating regulations (see 14 CFR 91.505 and 14 CFR 
135.21).
    (2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0208 specifies ``the RFM 
emergency and malfunction procedure, is an acceptable method'' this 
AD requires replacing that text with ``the RFM emergency and 
malfunction procedure, as defined in this AD, is an acceptable 
method''.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2022-0208.

 (i) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

 (j) 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 (k) 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.

 (k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Dan McCully, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 474-5548; email: 
[email protected].

 (l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0208, 
dated October 11, 2022.
    (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 the EASA material 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 18, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18491 Filed 9-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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