Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19076-19078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07170]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00008-R; 
Amendment 39-23249; AD 2026-01-51 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; removal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is removing Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2026-01-51, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B 
helicopters. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 required replacing the upper and 
lower pitch rod end bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with 
new pitch rod end bearings and reporting information after 
accomplishment of the replacement. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 also 
prohibited installing any affected main rotor lower and upper pitch rod 
end bearings on any helicopter, unless it is a serviceable part. The 
FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51 to address the structural failure of 
the main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings. Since the FAA 
issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51, the manufacturer determined the failure 
of the main rotor pitch rod end was caused by an inadequate maintenance 
procedure and that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition 
and therefore no AD is warranted. The FAA concurs and removes Emergency 
AD 2026-01-51.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 14, 2026.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by May 29, 2026.

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-2026-0732; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 
222-4130; 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 
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-
2026-00008-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

[[Page 19077]]

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 Jacob Fitch, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, previously 
issued Emergency AD 2026-0001-E, dated January 8, 2026; corrected 
January 9, 2026 (EASA Emergency AD 2026-0001-E), to correct an unsafe 
condition on all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. The FAA 
issued corresponding Emergency AD 2026-01-51, Amendment 39-23249, 
directly to affected owners and operators on January 12, 2026, and 
later in the Federal Register (91 FR 4431, February 2, 2026) (Emergency 
AD 2026-01-51), for those helicopters, as an interim AD. Emergency AD 
2026-01-51 required replacing the upper and lower pitch rod end 
bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with new pitch rod end 
bearings and reporting information after accomplishment of the 
replacement. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 was prompted by a report of the 
main rotor pitch rod rupturing during flight. The FAA issued Emergency 
AD 2026-01-51 to address the structural failure of the main rotor lower 
and upper pitch rod end bearings.

Actions Since Emergency AD 2026-01-51 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51, EASA issued AD 2026-
0001-E-CN, dated March 10, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0001-E-CN) (also referred 
to as the MCAI), to cancel EASA Emergency AD 2026-0001-E. EASA AD 2026-
0001-E-CN states that the manufacturer determined after further 
investigations the rupture of a main rotor pitch rod end during flight 
was caused by an inadequate maintenance procedure applied by an 
operator. The MCAI further states that the manufacturer confirmed that 
fatigue strength of a pitch rod with no permanent plastic deformation 
is in line with Model H160-B helicopter certification. Consequently, 
the unsafe condition addressed by EASA Emergency AD 2026-0001-E is no 
longer supported by the data and has been canceled.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that Emergency 
AD 2026-01-51 is no longer appropriate. Accordingly, this AD removes 
Emergency AD 2026-01-51. Removal of Emergency AD 2026-01-51 does not 
preclude the FAA from issuing another course of action in the future. 
This AD terminates all actions of Emergency AD 2026-01-51.

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 forego prior notice and comment 
procedures 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.
    The actions required by Emergency AD 2026-01-51 are unwarranted 
because further investigations have shown that the airworthiness 
concern addressed by that AD is not an unsafe condition. Accordingly, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the foregoing reasons, 
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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    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 FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Related Costs of Compliance

    This AD adds no costs. This AD removes Emergency AD 2026-01-51 from 
14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators are no longer required to show 
compliance with that Emergency AD.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA determined that 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2026-01-51, Amendment 39-23249 (91 
FR 4431, February 2, 2026), and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2026-01-51 R1 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23249; Docket No. 
FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00008-R.

[[Page 19078]]

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 14, 2026.

(b) Affected AD

    This AD replaces Emergency AD 2026-01-51, Amendment 39-23249 (91 
FR 4431, February 2, 2026) (Emergency AD 2026-01-51).

(c) Applicability

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

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6200, Main Rotor 
System.

(e) Terminating Action

    This AD terminates all requirements of Emergency AD 2026-01-51.

(f) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Jacob Fitch, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-4130; email: 
[email protected].

(g) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on April 9, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-07170 Filed 4-13-26; 8:45 am]
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