Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26906-26908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09521]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-0730; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01416-R; 
Amendment 39-23329; AD 2026-09-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 
(AHD) 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 Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and MBB-
BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a determination that a 
certain part-numbered standard MS18027 type hook may be subject to 
localized yielding in the mating threads when assembled to higher 
assembly torques. This AD requires modifying and re-identifying the 
affected part or replacing the affected part with a serviceable part. 
This AD also prohibits installing an affected part on any helicopter 
unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 17, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 17, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0730; 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

[[Page 26907]]

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, 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-2026-0730.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Warwick, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (817) 222-5225; 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 
Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and MBB-BK 117 D-2 
helicopters. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 
26, 2026 (91 FR 3092). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0188, 
dated September 1, 2025, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Union (EASA AD 2025-0188) (also 
referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that the standard MS18027 
hook part number (P/N) 42305-283 installed on the large hook damper 
assembly, P/N 44307-480, may be subject to localized yielding in the 
mating threads when assembled to higher assembly torques.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require modifying and re-
identifying the affected part or replacing the affected part with a 
serviceable part. The FAA also proposed to prohibit installing an 
affected part on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the hook. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the 
large hook damper assembly, which could result in loss of the hoist 
load and injury to persons.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0730.

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 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 2025-0188, which specifies procedures for 
modifying the large hook damper assembly having P/N 44307-480 by 
replacing the standard MS18027 hook P/N 42305-283 with D-Lok hook P/N 
42315-488 and reidentifying the large hook damper assembly to P/N 
44307-480-1.
    EASA AD 2025-0188 also specifies procedures for replacing large 
hook damper assembly P/N 44307-480 with large hook damper assembly P/N 
44307-480-1 (modification already accomplished) as an alternative to 
the initial modification requirement. EASA AD 2025-0188 also prohibits 
installing an affected large hook damper assembly having P/N 44307-480 
on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met within 12 months 
of the effective date of this AD and prohibits installing the affected 
part on any helicopter.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 183 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify hook and reidentify large hook   1 work-hour x $85 per             $3,545          $3,630        $664,290
 damper assembly.                        hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following cost to do any replacement that 
would be an alternative method of compliance. The agency has no way of 
determining the number of helicopters that might choose this 
replacement:

                                            Alternative Method Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace large hook damper assembly............  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85         $23,867         $23,952
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 26908]]

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:

2026-09-08 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD): Amendment 39-
23329; Docket No. FAA-2026-0730; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01416-
R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 17, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 
Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters, certificated in 
any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2500, Cabin 
Equipment/Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the determination that the standard 
MS18027 type hook may be subject to localized yielding in the mating 
threads when assembled to higher assembly torques. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the hook. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the large 
hook damper assembly, which could result in loss of the hoist load 
and injury to persons.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0188, 
dated September 1, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0188).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0188

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0188 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0188 specifies 
``discard'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``remove from 
service''.
    (3) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0188 specifies 
``check'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``inspect''.
    (4) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0188 specifies 
``if necessary clean the surface'', this AD requires replacing that 
text with ``clean the surface''.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0188.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0188 specifies 
to submit information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require 
those actions.

(j) 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 that no external 
load is carried.

(k) 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 (l) 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.

(l) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Steven Warwick, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5225; email: 
[email protected].

(m) 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 2025-0188, 
dated September 1, 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, 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 28, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-09521 Filed 5-12-26; 8:45 am]
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