Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45914-45917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18497]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-2550; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01211-R; 
Amendment 39-23150; AD 2025-19-10]
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 AW189 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a 
report of a fire occurring during the operational check of the engine 
anti-icing system. This AD requires inspecting and measuring the 
resistance of the air intake electrical connectors, inspecting the 
bonding strap, reporting the results of the inspections, and depending 
on the results of the inspection, accomplishing corrective actions. 
This AD also prohibits the installation of an air intake controller 
unless certain actions are accomplished. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 9, 2025.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 9, 
2025.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by November 10, 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-2025-2550; 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-2025-2550.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Hein, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 
946-4116; 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-2025-2550; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2025-01211-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 Adam 
Hein, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590. 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 2025-0147, dated July 11, 2025 (EASA 
AD 2025-0147) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 
condition on all Leonardo S.p.A. Model AW189 helicopters. The MCAI 
states that a fire that occurred during a maintenance task of doing an 
operational check of the engine anti-icing system was reported. The 
fire involved the engine intake air cowling, the wirings present in 
that area, and the secondary structures of the intake air frame and the 
upper deck panels.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the occurrence of a fire 
during the operation of the air intakes ice protection system. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in an uncontrolled 
fire and possible loss of the helicopter.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-2550.

[[Page 45915]]

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0147, which specifies procedures for 
repetitively inspecting and measuring the isolation resistance of the 
air intake electrical connectors for certain serial numbered 
helicopters (Group 1 helicopters) and requires reporting the results to 
the manufacturer to obtain repair instructions. EASA AD 2025-0147 also 
specifies Group 1 helicopters to measure the isolation resistance of 
the air intake electrical connectors prior to the accomplishment of a 
certain maintenance task (air intakes ice protection system operation 
test). EASA AD 2025-0147 also specifies procedures for a one-time 
inspection of the bonding strap for certain serial numbered helicopters 
(Group 2 helicopters) and reporting the results to the manufacturer. 
EASA AD 2025-0147 also prohibits installing an air intake controller 
unless certain actions are accomplished.
    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.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority 
(CAA) 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 2025-
0147, 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 MCAI

    The MCAI specifies contacting Leonardo Product Support Engineering 
for applicable instructions, whereas this AD requires using a repair 
method approved by the FAA, EASA, or Leonardo Helicopters' EASA Design 
Organization Approval.

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 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 2025-0147 is incorporated 
by reference in this AD. This AD requires compliance with EASA AD 2025-
0147 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 2025-0147 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 2025-0147. Material referenced in 
EASA AD 2025-0147 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov 
under Docket No. FAA-2025-2550 after this AD is published.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. The 
manufacturer is still investigating the root cause of the unsafe 
condition identified in this AD. If final action is later identified, 
the FAA might consider further rulemaking.

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 final 
rule due to the increased risk of fire during operation of the engine 
anti-icing system in cases where the system is not adequately insulated 
or is missing a bonding strap. Additionally, the engine anti-icing 
system could be used at any time, especially when operating in 
instrument flight rule conditions and cold weather operations. 
Therefore, the actions required by this AD must be accomplished within 
25 hours time-in-service, which is a shorter time period 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 four 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection and measurement of the       2 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $170            $680
 isolation resistance.                   hour = $170.
Inspection and installation of the      6 work-hours x $85 per                 0             510           2,040
 bonding strap.                          hour = $510.

[[Page 45916]]

 
Reporting and isolation resistance....  3 work-hours x $85 per                 0             255           1,020
                                         hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The repairs needed as a result of repairing a discrepancy could 
vary significantly from helicopter to helicopter. The FAA has no way of 
determining the costs to accomplish the repairs or the number of 
helicopters that may require repair.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take 
approximately 3 hours per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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:

2025-19-10 Leonardo S.p.A.: Amendment 39-23150; Docket No. FAA-2025-
2550; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01211-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 9, 2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.A. Model AW189 helicopters, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7160, Engine Air 
Intake System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a fire occurring during the 
operational check of the engine anti-icing system. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent the occurrence of a fire during the 
operation of the air intakes ice protection system. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in an uncontrolled fire 
and possible loss of the helicopter.

(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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0147, dated July 
11, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0147).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0147

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0147 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0147 refers to flight hours, this AD 
requires using hours time-in-service.
    (3) Where EASA AD 2025-0147 refers to isolation resistance check 
or isolation check, this AD requires using isolation resistance 
measurement.
    (4) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0147 states ``any 
discrepancy'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``any 
isolation resistance that is less than 10 M[Omega] at 500Vdc +/-
50Vdc''.
    (5) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0147 states ``contact 
Leonardo Product Support Engineering for applicable instructions'', 
this AD requires replacing that text with ``repair the discrepancy 
using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation 
Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Leonardo Helicopters' EASA Design 
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval 
must include the DOA-authorized signature''.
    (6) Where paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2025-0147 states ``any 
discrepancy is detected'', this AD requires replacing that text with 
``if bonding strap is missing''.
    (7) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0147.

(i) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are permitted provided the air intake 
heating system is not used during the ferry flight.

(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

[[Page 45917]]

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 Adam Hein, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; phone: (316) 946-4116; 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 the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0147, 
dated July 11, 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 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 17, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18497 Filed 9-22-25; 4:15 pm]
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