Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Medical Seats

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21942-21945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08003]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-3861; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00003-Q; 
Amendment 39-23318; AD 2026-08-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Medical 
Seats

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 
certain B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH (B/E Aerospace Fischer) Medical 
Seats 230/305. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain 
medical seats that are certified for aft facing (AF) and forward facing 
(FF) installations have been delivered with an incorrect version of the 
swivel unit. This AD requires modification and reidentification of the 
affected medical seats. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 11, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 11, 
2026.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by June 8, 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.

[[Page 21943]]

    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-3861; 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 Collins Aerospace material identified in this AD, 
contact Collins Aerospace at B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Engineering 
[verbar] Helicopter Seating, Mueller-Armack-Str. 4, 84034 Landshut, 
Germany; phone: +49 871 932 480; email: [email protected]; 
website: collinsaerospace.com.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, 
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-2026-3861.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Buitrago Perez, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (516) 228-7368; 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-2026-3861; Project Identifier MCAI-
2026-00003-Q'' 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 Brenda 
Buitrago Perez, 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

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2025-0294R1, dated February 9, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-0294R1) (also 
referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on B/E 
Aerospace Fischer Medical Seat 230/305, part number (P/N) 9613-1-35-( 
), having serial numbers 3241, 3242, 3243, 3244, 3245, 3473, 3474, 
3475, 3476, 3481, 3482, 3483, 3484, 3546, 3547, 3548, 3549, 3575, 3576, 
3577, 3578, 3591, 3646, 3647, 3648, 3649, 3703, 3958, 3959, 3960, 3961, 
4114, 4115, 4116, 4117, 4118, 4119, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4131, 4132, 4133, 
4134, 4135, 4175, 4180, 4202, 4203, 4204, 4205, 4206, 4207, 4208, 4209, 
4210, 4211, 4212 and 4213, installed on, but not limited to, Airbus 
Helicopters Deutschland (AHD) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 helicopters, 
Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters, and Bell Textron 
Inc. Model 412 helicopters. The MCAI states that a determination was 
made that certain seats that are certified for AF and FF installations 
have been delivered with an incorrect version of the swivel unit, which 
has been certified only for AF installation. The FAA is issuing this AD 
to address an incorrect version of the swivel unit on these medical 
seats. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in injuries 
to the occupant during an emergency landing.

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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Collins Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin SB 9613-
005, Issue D, dated December 3, 2025. This material specifies 
procedures for modifying the AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-1 into 
an FF and AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-2 and restoring the 
approved design data and the certified level of safety for the affected 
variants of the Medical Seats 230/305. 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.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires either installing a placard on the affected 
medical seat or modifying and reidentifying of an affected medical 
seat, which is considered a terminating action for the actions required 
by this AD.

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. 
The affected seats that were delivered with an incorrect swivel unit do 
not meet the approved crashworthiness configuration for forward-facing 
installations; therefore, the FAA has determined that the corrective 
action must be accomplished before further flight, in order to prevent 
injuries to the occupant during an

[[Page 21944]]

emergency landing. This 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 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 59 medical seats. The FAA 
estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Cost on
                  Action                              Labor cost            Parts cost    Cost per       U.S.
                                                                                          product     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify and reidentify medical seat........  1 work-hour x $85 per hour =           $25         $110       $6,490
                                             $85.
Install a placard on an affected medical    1 work-hour x $85 per hour =             0           85        5,015
 seat.                                       $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Either the modification or the placard requirement would be 
required by this AD. The placard would be a minimal parts cost.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected operators.

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:

2026-08-10 B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Medical Seats: Amendment 39-
23318; Docket No. FAA-2026-3861; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00003-
Q.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 11, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH (B/E Aerospace 
Fischer) Medical Seat 230/305 with a part number (P/N) and serial 
number combination listed in Table 1--affected P/Ns, in Paragraph 
1.1 SB [Service Bulletin] Effectivity of Collins Aerospace Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) SB 9613-005, Issue D, dated December 3, 2025 
(Collins Aerospace ASB SB 9613-005, Issue D).
    (2) These seats are known to be installed on but not limited to: 
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland (AHD) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 
helicopters, Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters, and 
Bell Textron Inc. Model 412 helicopters, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2520, Passenger 
compartment equipment.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that certain medical 
seats that are certified for aft facing (AF) and forward facing (FF) 
installations have been delivered with an incorrect version of the 
swivel unit. The FAA is issuing this AD to address an incorrect 
version of the swivel unit on these medical seats. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in injuries to the 
occupant during an emergency landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    For medical seats identified in paragraph (c) of this AD, before 
further flight after the effective date of this AD, accomplish one 
of the following:
    (1) Install a placard with the words ``Do not occupy'' on the 
affected medical seat; or
    (2) Modify each AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-1 into an FF 
and AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-2 in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions paragraphs 3.1.2 and 3.2 of Collins 
Aerospace ASB SB 9613-005, Issue D. This modification is considered 
a terminating action for this AD.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, if those actions were performed before 
the effective date of this AD using Collins Aerospace ASB, SB 9613-
005, Issue A, dated August 8, 2024; Issue B, dated October 24, 2024; 
or Issue C, dated November 13, 2024.

[[Page 21945]]

(i) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where the 
actions of this AD can be accomplished, provided an affected medical 
seat identified in paragraph (c) of this AD is not occupied in the 
FF configuration.

(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)(1) 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

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Brenda Buitrago 
Perez, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-7368; email: [email protected].
    (2) Material that is not incorporated by reference can be found 
at the contact information identified in paragraph (l)(3) of this 
AD.

(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) Collins Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin SB 9613-005, Issue 
D, dated December 3, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Collins Aerospace material identified in this AD, 
contact Collins Aerospace at B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Engineering 
[verbar] Helicopter Seating, Mueller-Armack-Str. 4, 84034 Landshut, 
Germany; phone: +49 871 932 480; email: [email protected]; 
website: collinsaerospace.com.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, 
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 April 20, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-08003 Filed 4-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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