Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 123 (Monday, June 29, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38994-38997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-13064]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-5026; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00168-R; 
Amendment 39-23382; AD 2026-12-12]
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 
discovery during a maintenance operation that several self-locking nuts 
of the window jettisoning system could be loosened by hand due to a 
non-conformity in certain cable kits. This AD requires modifying each 
affected window into a serviceable window. This AD also prohibits 
installing an affected window or an affected door on any helicopter. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 3, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 3, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5026; 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, 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-2025-5026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Rivera, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (773) 
412-9048; 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 20, 2025 (90 FR 52264). The NPRM was prompted by 
EASA AD 2024-0063, dated March 7, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0063) (also 
referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that 
during a maintenance operation, several self-locking nuts of the window 
jettisoning system could be loosened by hand. The MCAI further states 
that the function of these nuts is to hold the threaded axis and the 
associated cable tightly together, as part of the passenger window 
jettisoning system. The MCAI also states that certain cable kits which 
are part of the window jettisoning system may not be in conformance 
with applicable specifications.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require modifying each affected 
window into a serviceable window. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit 
installing an affected window or an affected door on any helicopter. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the jettisoning 
function of the window which, if not addressed, could result in the 
inability to evacuate helicopter occupants during an emergency 
situation.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-5026.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from the Citizens Rulemaking Alliance. 
The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's 
response to each comment.

Request To Justify Forgoing Notice and Comment or Issue an NPRM

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA either 
provide its justification for finding good cause to bypass notice and 
comment procedures, convert this action to an NPRM, or at a minimum 
reopen the comment period to allow comments. The commenter asserted the 
FAA has not adequately justified use of the good cause exemption to 
bypass notice and comment and the 30-day delayed effective date.
    The FAA notes the comment was submitted in response to an NPRM for 
which the FAA provided a 45-day comment period. This final rule is 
effective 35 days after its publication in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, no change to this AD is necessary.

Request To Consider Impact on Small Entities

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested the FAA to either 
supplement the docket with a factual basis that complies with the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) or withdraw the certification and 
conduct an initial regulatory flexibility analysis. The commenter 
stated that the analysis should consider the costs related to parts, 
labor, aircraft downtime, and the impact on small entities, and should 
involve reopening the comment period. Furthermore, the commenter asked 
the FAA to explore less burdensome options for small operators, such as 
implementing phased inspection intervals, extending compliance periods, 
granting credit for previous actions, and providing alternative methods 
of compliance (AMOC) templates.
    The FAA has considered the AD's impact on small entities and 
provides the following factual basis for its RFA certification.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, Public Law 96-354, 94 Stat. 
1164 (5 U.S.C. 601-612), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement

[[Page 38995]]

Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121, 110 Stat. 857, Mar. 29, 1996) 
and the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-240, 124 Stat. 
2504, Sept. 27, 2010), requires Federal agencies to consider the 
effects of the regulatory action on small business and other small 
entities and to minimize any significant economic impact. The term 
``small entities'' comprises small businesses and not-for-profit 
organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    The FAA identified two domestic entities, one pharmaceutical 
preparation manufacturer and one nonscheduled air transportation 
operator, that will be affected by this AD. Based on the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) size standard (displayed in the following table), 
both entities are large businesses.

                    Small Business Size Standards \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        NAICS \2\ code                Description         Size standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
325412........................  Pharmaceutical          1,300 employees.
                                 Preparation
                                 Manufacturing.
481219........................  Other Nonscheduled Air  $25.0 million.
                                 Transportation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Sources: sba.gov: Table of Small Business Size Standards. Dun &
  Bradstreet; D&B Hoovers; Retrieved May 15, 2026; app.hoovers.dnb.com.
\2\ NAICS = North American Industrial Classification System.

    If an agency determines that a rulemaking action will not result in 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, the head of the agency may certify under section 605(b) of 
the RFA. Therefore, as provided in section 605(b) and based on the RFA, 
the head of the FAA certifies that this AD will not result in a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Therefore, the FAA did not change this AD as a result of this comment.

Request To Comply With the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA clarify 
whether the AD contains any reporting requirements and revise the AD to 
comply with the PRA if reporting is required or suspend any reporting 
provisions until PRA requirements are satisfied.
    The FAA notes that paragraph (i) of this AD specifies that this AD 
does not require reporting. If an AD were to require reporting, the 
preamble of the AD would include a paragraph titled ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act'' that would provide the applicable OMB control number, 
required PRA statements, and the estimated time to collect the required 
information (burden). Any costs associated with the reporting 
requirement would be included in the Costs of Compliance section in the 
preamble of the AD. Therefore, the FAA did not change this AD as a 
result of this comment.

Request To Make Incorporation by Reference (IBR) Materials Reasonably 
Available

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance stated that the FAA's current 
practices for IBR frequently fail to meet the legal and regulatory 
standards for reasonable availability. The commenter called on the FAA 
to guarantee that all IBR materials are easily and freely accessible to 
the public during the comment period and to reopen the comment period 
for at least 30 days after access is provided. Alternatively, the 
commenter requested that the FAA provide a detailed appendix 
summarizing all substantive requirements provided in the IBR material.
    The FAA clarifies that this AD only incorporates by reference EASA 
AD 2024-0063, not the manufacturer service information referenced in 
that EASA AD. The FAA posted EASA AD 2024-0063 to the AD docket when 
the NPRM was published in the Federal Register making it available 
during the comment period. The material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 
may only be posted before the final rule's publication if it is already 
publicly available or if there is written consent from the owner of 
that material. Additionally, the FAA provided notice in the NPRM that 
the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 will be available in the 
AD docket after this AD is published. Therefore, the FAA did not change 
this AD as a result of this comment.

Request To Provide Additional Cost Information

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA add to the 
AD docket a fuller analysis of the estimated costs of the proposed AD 
and reopen the comment period for public input on the additional cost 
information, especially from small operators.
    The FAA recognizes that, in doing the actions required by an AD, 
operators might incur indirect or incidental costs in addition to the 
direct costs. The cost analysis in an AD typically describes only the 
direct costs of the specific actions required by an AD, which does not 
include indirect or incidental costs such as downtime, loss of revenue, 
planning, or time necessitated by other administrative actions since 
those costs might vary significantly among operators. The number of 
work hours necessary to do the required actions of an AD is provided by 
the manufacturer. This number represents the time necessary to perform 
only the actions actually required by an AD. The cost of parts or 
special tools, if necessary, to complete the actions required by an AD 
is also provided by the manufacturer. Further, when the FAA is informed 
that the manufacturer may cover some or all of the estimated costs of 
an AD under warranty, the FAA indicates that in the AD.
    In the Costs of Compliance section of the proposed AD, the FAA 
disclosed the estimated number of work hours, the number of helicopters 
affected on the U.S. registry (which has been updated in this final 
rule), estimated parts cost, and the aggregate costs for the U.S. 
fleet. Since the FAA has assessed and disclosed the total known costs 
of the AD requirements in the Costs of Compliance section of the 
proposed AD, and the commenter did not provide additional cost data for 
the FAA to consider in its cost analysis, it is not necessary to reopen 
the comment period or provide additional information in the AD docket.

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

[[Page 38996]]

condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, a 
correction to the revision level of Vision Systems Vendor Service 
Bulletin No. 02-050-015 from Revision 10 to Revision 0 and any other 
changes described previously, 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 2024-0063, which specifies procedures for 
replacing each affected passenger window with a serviceable window or 
modifying an affected window into a serviceable window, which consists 
of removing and installing a certain part-numbered cable kit. EASA AD 
2024-0063 also prohibits installing an affected window or an affected 
door 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 10 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 \1\         Parts cost    product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify windows (4 per helicopter)........  13 work-hours x $85 per           $3,132       $4,237         $42,370
                                            hour = $1,105.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The FAA estimated operators will incur $85 in costs per labor hour, which is the weighted average fiscal
  year (FY) 2026 fully loaded wage of an aircraft mechanic ($69.85) working 60% of the labor hours and a general
  and operations manager ($108.15) working 40% of the labor hours. The FAA estimated these wages by taking the
  average of the FY 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) air transportation industry average wage for aircraft
  mechanics and general and operations managers (See: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Query System,
  BLS (May 2024), data.bls.gov/oes/); multiplying each wage by a fringe benefit factor of 1.42 (See: Employer
  Cost for Employee Compensation--December 2024, BLS (2024), bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_03142025.pdf);
  and adjusting these 2024 wages to 2026 dollars using an implicit Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Price Deflator
  of 2.8% (See: Gross Domestic Product: Implicit Price Deflator, FRED (2026) fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPDEF).

    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,
    (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:

2026-12-12 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23382; Docket No. FAA-
2025-5026; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00168-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 3, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

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

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5630, Door windows.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a discovery during a maintenance 
operation that several self-locking nuts of the window jettisoning 
system could be loosened by hand due to a non-conformity in certain 
cable kits. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
jettisoning function of the window. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in the inability to evacuate helicopter 
occupants during an emergency situation.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    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 2024-0063, 
dated March 7, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0063).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0063

    (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0063 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0063 requires compliance in terms of 
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
    (3) Where EASA AD 2024-0063 defines ``affected passenger 
window'', and refers to ``a Part Number as listed in the ASB and a

[[Page 38997]]

s/n as listed in the vendor SB'', this AD requires replacing that 
text with ``a part number identified in the Component Affected 
section of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB H160-52-20-
0001, Issue 001, dated January 25, 2024; and a serial number 
identified in the Appendix: Applicable serial number, of Vision 
Systems Vendor Service Bulletin No. 02-050-015, Revision 0, dated 
January 24, 2024, as applicable''.
    (4) Where EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies ``replace each affected 
passenger window with a serviceable window'', this AD requires 
replacing that text with ``modify each affected passenger window 
into a serviceable window''.
    (5) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies 
``check'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``inspect''.
    (6) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies 
``throw away'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``remove 
from service''.
    (7) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies 
``respect the screwing order'', this AD requires replacing that text 
with ``follow the screwing order''.
    (8) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies 
``screw the nuts'', this AD requires replacing that text with 
``secure the nuts into place''.
    (9) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies 
``fine tuning the pull-up cables in locked position (finger)'', this 
AD requires replacing that text with ``put the pull-up cables into 
the locked position and make small adjustments to the nuts to ensure 
cable tension and prevent twisting, coiling, or crossing of 
cables''.
    (10) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0063.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0063 specifies 
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
require that action.

(j) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199, provided there are no flights over water.

(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 Eric Rivera, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (773) 412-9048; 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 2024-0063, 
dated March 7, 2024.
    (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, 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 June 12, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division,Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-13064 Filed 6-26-26; 8:45 am]
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