Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12499-12501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05100]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-5033; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00795-R; 
Amendment 39-23286; AD 2026-05-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 all 
Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This AD was prompted by a 
report of a tail rotor drive rear shaft that came into contact with its 
rear damper during a flight test. This AD requires repetitive visual 
inspections of the rear damper and, depending on the results, 
corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 20, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 20, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5033; 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.
    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 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-2025-5033.

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:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Helicopters 
Model H160-B helicopters. The NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on November 28, 2025 (90 FR 54591). The NPRM was prompted by 
EASA AD 2025-0098, dated April 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0098) (also 
referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI advises of a 
report that the tail rotor drive rear shaft of the tail drive line had 
come in contact with its rear damper during a flight test. This contact 
is expected only when the helicopter is on the ground, during 
transition phases of either accelerating (ramp up) or decelerating 
(ramp-down), when passing the shaft critical mode.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive visual 
inspections of the rear damper and, depending on the results, 
corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct 
the tail rotor drive rear shaft contacting the rear damper during 
flight, which if not corrected, could result in degradation of the rear 
damper and its support, loss of the rear damper function, failure of 
the tail rotor drive rear shaft, and consequent loss of yaw control of 
the helicopter.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5033.

[[Page 12500]]

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 2025-0098, which specifies procedures for 
repetitive visual inspections of the two radii in the top area of the 
rear damper, the hard chrome oxide deposit on the friction bush located 
under the rear damper, and the rear damper supports for cracks and 
loose or missing fasteners and, depending on the results, performing 
further inspections, replacing the rear damper, or contacting the 
manufacturer for further corrective actions. 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

    Where the MCAI specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters for repair 
instructions, this AD requires using a method approved by the FAA, 
EASA, or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects nine 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visual inspection of rear damper.........  1 work-hour x $85 per hour            $0          $85            $765
                                            = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Action                                Labor cost               Parts cost   Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace rear damper........................  8 work-hours x $85 per hour = $680      $22,647             $23,327
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,
    (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:

2026-05-13 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23286; Docket No. FAA-
2025-5033; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00795-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 20, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6510, Tail Rotor 
Drive Shaft.

[[Page 12501]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a tail rotor drive rear 
shaft of the tail drive line coming into contact with its rear 
damper during a flight test. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect 
and correct the tail rotor drive rear shaft contacting the rear 
damper during flight. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in degradation of the rear damper and its support, loss of 
the rear damper function, failure of the tail rotor drive rear 
shaft, and consequent loss of yaw control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    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 (EASA) AD 
2025-0098, dated April 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0098).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0098

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0098 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0098 requires compliance in terms of 
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
    (3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0098 specifies 
contacting AH (Airbus Helicopters) to obtain approved instructions, 
this AD requires actions done in accordance with a method approved 
by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or 
Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 
approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized 
signature.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0098.

(i) 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 (j) 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.

(j) 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].

(k) 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 2025-0098, 
dated April 29, 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 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 March 10, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-05100 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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