Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 131 (Friday, July 10, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42644-42646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-13977]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-2292; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00043-R; 
Amendment 39-23402; AD 2026-14-02]
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 AS350B2, AS350B3, EC120B, and EC130B4 
helicopters. This AD was prompted by a short-circuit due to foreign 
object debris (FOD) or dust inside the lighting and ancillaries control 
unit (LACU). This AD requires repetitively cleaning and inspecting the 
affected LACU for FOD. Depending on the configuration of the 
helicopter, this AD also requires modifying the emergency floatation 
system (EFS) activation switches and revising the existing rotorcraft 
flight manual (RFM) for the helicopter, which would constitute a 
terminating action for the repetitive cleaning and inspection 
requirements. Additionally, this AD prohibits installing an affected 
LACU 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 August 14, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 14, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 

[[Page 42645]]

    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-2292; 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-2026-2292.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deep Gaurav, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 
228-3731; 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 AS350B2, AS350B3, EC120B, and EC130B4 helicopters. The NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2026 (91 FR 11191). The 
NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2024-0018, dated January 11, 2024 (EASA AD 
2024-0018) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitively cleaning and 
inspecting the affected LACU for FOD. Depending on the configuration of 
the helicopter, the FAA also proposed to require modifying the EFS 
activation switches and revising the existing RFM for the helicopter, 
which would constitute a terminating action for the proposed repetitive 
cleaning and inspection requirements. In the NPRM, the FAA also 
proposed to prohibit installing an affected LACU on any helicopter 
unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-2292.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from one commenter who supported the NPRM 
without change.

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 2024-0018, which specifies procedures for 
cleaning and repetitively inspecting the LACU for FOD. EASA AD 2024-
0018 also specifies procedures for amending the RFM and modifying the 
location of EFS activation switches on certain helicopters, which 
constitutes a terminating action for the repetitive inspection 
requirements. Lastly, EASA AD 2024-0018 prohibits installing certain 
EFS and LACUs on any helicopter, unless certain requirements are met.
    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

    EASA AD 2024-0018 requires informing all flight crews of the 
revisions to the RFM and thereafter operating the helicopter 
accordingly. However, this AD does not require those actions as those 
actions are already required by FAA regulations. FAA regulations 
require operators furnish to pilots any changes to the flight manual 
(for example, 14 CFR 135.21) and to ensure the pilots are familiar with 
the flight manual (for example, 14 CFR 91.505). FAA regulations also 
require pilots to follow the procedures in the existing flight manual 
including all updates. Therefore, including a requirement in this AD to 
inform the flight crew and operate the helicopter according to the 
revised RFM would be redundant and unnecessary.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 576 helicopters of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Cost per
               Action                        Labor cost         Parts cost    product     Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clean and inspect the LACU..........  2 work-hours x $85 per            $0         $170  $97,920 per inspection
                                       hour = $170.                                       cycle.
Modification of EFS.................  16 work-hours x $85 per            0        1,360  783,360.
                                       hour = $1,360.
Revise RFM..........................  1 work-hour x $85 per              0           85  48,960.
                                       hour = $85.
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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

[[Page 42646]]

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:

2026-14-02 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23402; Docket No. FAA-
2026-2292; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00043-R.

(a) Effective Date

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

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, 
AS350B3, EC120B, and EC130B4 helicopters, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3100, Indication/
Recording System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a short-circuit due to foreign object 
debris or dust inside the lighting and ancillaries control unit 
(LACU) in a Model EC130B4 helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent this malfunction. This unsafe condition, if not detected and 
addressed, could lead to loss of the emergency floatation system 
(EFS) and result in failure of the EFS to activate during an 
emergency water landing.

(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 2024-0018, 
dated January 11, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0018).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0018

    (1) Where EASA AD 2024-0018 requires compliance in terms of 
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2024-0018 refers to its effective date and to 
July 30, 2021 (the effective date of EASA AD 2021-0168, dated July 
16, 2021), this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (3) This AD requires that paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2024-0018 
apply only to Group 1 helicopters as defined in EASA AD 2024-0018.
    (4) This AD does not adopt paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2024-0018. 
Instead, this AD requires that, during any inspection required by 
paragraph (1) or (2) of EASA AD 2024-0018, if foreign object debris 
or dust is found, you must clean the printed circuit board of the 
control panel. After the modification required by paragraph (4) of 
EASA AD 2024-0018, the helicopter is a Group 2 helicopter.
    (5) Where paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2024-0018 specifies to inform 
all flight crews and thereafter operate the helicopter accordingly, 
this AD does not require those actions as those actions are already 
required by existing FAA operating regulations (see 14 CFR 91.505 
and 14 CFR 135.21).
    (6) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0018 specifies 
to discard parts, this AD requires removing these parts from 
service.
    (7) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0018 specifies 
ensuring the applicable rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) is at the 
latest update, this AD only requires revising your RFM to the 
revision specified in the material and not to later revisions 
(updates).
    (8) This AD does not adopt paragraph (7.2) of EASA AD 2024-0018.
    (9) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2024-0018.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2024-0018 specifies 
to submit information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require 
that action.

(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) 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

    For more information about this AD, contact Deep Gaurav, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 228-3731; email: 
[email protected].

(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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2024-0018, 
dated January 11, 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 July 2, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-13977 Filed 7-9-26; 8:45 am]
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