Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 186 (Monday, September 28, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61123-61127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19758]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-3991; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00365-R; 
Amendment 39-23469; AD 2026-19-02]
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 
certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC 130 T2 helicopters. This AD was 
prompted by the determination that helicopter operators received main 
rotor blades (MRB) that are not certified to be

[[Page 61124]]

installed on their helicopters and thus, without instructions for 
continued airworthiness, cannot be properly maintained. This AD 
requires replacing the affected parts with serviceable parts and 
prohibits installing the affected MRBs on Airbus Helicopters Model EC 
130 T2 helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 2, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 2, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-3991; 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-2025-3991.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shailesh Malla, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (817) 222-5584; 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 certain Airbus 
Helicopters Model EC 130 T2 helicopters. The NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on November 18, 2025 (90 FR 51605). The NPRM was 
prompted EASA AD 2025-0062, dated March 20, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0062) 
(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 
part number (P/N) 355A11003002 [manufacturer reference 355A11-0030-02] 
MRBs were delivered to EC 130 T2 helicopter operators; these affected 
MRBs are not certified for installation on Model EC 130 T2 helicopters. 
The MCAI further states that a comprehensive set of instructions for 
continued airworthiness is not available, thus these MRBs cannot be 
maintained properly.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing the affected 
parts with serviceable parts and to prohibit installing the affected 
MRBs on Model EC 130 T2 helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent MRB failure due to not maintaining uncertified MRBs. This 
condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of control of the 
helicopter.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-3991.

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 and a shortened effective date or convert this 
action to an NPRM with an expedited comment period and consider interim 
mitigations that maintain safety. 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, 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 revise the 
AD to comply with the PRA if reporting is required or remove any 
reporting provisions until PRA requirements are satisfied.
    The FAA notes 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 coordinate with Airbus Helicopters to ensure that all IBR materials 
are easily and freely accessible to the public and affected parties for 
both commenting and compliance purposes. The commenter also requested 
that this access be documented in the rulemaking record.
    The FAA notes that this AD incorporates by reference EASA AD 2025-
0062, not the manufacturer service information referenced in that EASA 
AD. The FAA posted EASA AD 2025-0062 to the AD docket when the NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register. The material referenced in EASA AD 
2025-0062 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 2025-0062 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 Supplement the AD Docket With Supporting Data

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA add to the 
AD docket the MCAI, service information summaries, the incident data, 
and the economic analysis. The commenter also requested that the 
comment period be reopened and effective date extended to allow 
meaningful participation.
    The FAA does not agree. The FAA has assessed and disclosed the 
background and basis for this rulemaking in the preamble of the NPRM, 
including a discussion of the MCAI that is being

[[Page 61125]]

incorporated by reference, a description of the unsafe condition, and 
the FAA's rationale for the required actions. The preamble of the NPRM 
also contained the regulatory evaluation, as is the FAA's practice 
rather than including it as a separate document in the AD docket. This 
information was available to the public during the 45-day comment 
period provided by the NPRM. Since the FAA has assessed and disclosed 
the basis for this rulemaking in the preamble of the NPRM and the 
commenter did not provide additional safety data for the FAA to 
consider in its analysis, it is not necessary to provide additional 
information in the AD docket.

Request To Consider Impact on Small Entities

    The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA either 
provide the factual basis for its Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 
certification that the AD will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities or prepare a detailed initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis that considers alternatives (phased 
compliance times, extended intervals, or alternative inspection 
methods) for small entities.
    The FAA has considered the AD's impact on small businesses 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 Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121, 110 Stat. 857, 
Mar. 29, 1996) and the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Public Law 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.

Small Entities to Which This AD Applies

    The FAA used the definition of small entities in the RFA for this 
analysis. The RFA defines small entities as small businesses, small 
governmental jurisdictions, or small organizations. In 5 U.S.C. 601(3), 
the RFA defines ``small business'' to have the same meaning as ``small 
business concern'' under section 3 of the Small Business Act. The Small 
Business Act authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to 
define ``small business'' by issuing regulations.
    The SBA has established size standards for various types of 
economic activities, or industries, under the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS). These size standards generally define 
small businesses based on the number of employees or annual receipts. 
The following table provides the SBA size standards for all industries 
with at least one entity impacted by this AD. Note that the SBA 
definition of a small business applies to the parent company and all 
affiliates as a single entity.

                      Small Business Size Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         NAICS             NAICS description        SBA size standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
311919................  Other Snack Food        1,250 Employees.
                         Manufacturing.
481211................  Nonscheduled Chartered  1,500 Employees.
                         Passenger Air
                         Transportation.
481212................  Nonscheduled Chartered  1,500 Employees.
                         Freight Air
                         Transportation.
487990................  Scenic and Sightseeing  $34,000,000.
                         Transportation, Other.
488190................  Other Support           $40,000,000.
                         Activities for Air
                         Transportation.
532411................  Commercial Air, Rail,   $47,000,000.
                         and Water
                         Transportation
                         Equipment Rental.
532411................  Commercial Air, Rail,   $47,000,000.
                         and Water
                         Transportation
                         Equipment Rental.
611512................  Pilot Training........  1,500 Employees.
621910................  Ambulance Services....  $22,500,000.
721120................  Casino Hotels.........  $47,000,000.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To identify small entities, the FAA first identified the primary 
NAICS of the entity or parent company, and then used data from 
different sources (e.g., company annual reports, Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics) to determine whether the entity meets the 
applicable size standard. The following table provides the estimated 
number of small entities.

                                       Estimated Number of Small Entities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    SBA size         Number of       Number of                     Percent small
       NAICS description            threshold        entities      aircraft \1\   Small entities     entities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Snack Food Manufacturing  1,250 Employees.               1               1               0               0
Nonscheduled Chartered          1,500 Employees.              36              47               0               0
 Passenger Air Transportation.
Nonscheduled Chartered Freight  1,500 Employees.               1               1               0               0
 Air Transportation.
Scenic and Sightseeing          $34,000,000.....               4              22               2              50
 Transportation, Other.
Other Support Activities for    $40,000,000.....               2               2               2             100
 Air Transportation.
Commercial Air, Rail, and       $47,000,000.....               2               4               0               0
 Water Transportation
 Equipment Rental.
Pilot Training................  1,500 Employees.               1               1               1             100
Ambulance Services............  $22,500,000.....               8              60               0               0

[[Page 61126]]

 
Casino Hotels.................  $47,000,000.....               1               1               0               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ There are a total of 139 aircraft, of which 9 are identified as foreign owned, 18 are owned by small
  businesses, 79 are not identifiable as owned by small businesses, and 33 have no identifying information
  available.

Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

    The FAA estimates the low compliance cost for this AD at $106,581 
per aircraft and the high cost per aircraft at $319,743. The following 
table provides the estimated cost by each affected entity and 
corresponding NAICS industry.

                                       Cost of Compliance per Small Entity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Low cost as    High cost as
            Category              Annual revenue     Low cost        High cost      percent of      percent of
                                                                                      revenue         revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scenic and Sightseeing               $19,750,000      $1,385,553      $4,156,659            7.02           21.05
 Transportation, Other..........
Scenic and Sightseeing                26,180,000         213,162         639,486            0.81            2.44
 Transportation, Other..........
Other Support Activities for Air         250,000         106,581         319,743           42.63          127.90
 Transportation.................
Other Support Activities for Air       3,800,000         106,581         319,743            2.80            8.41
 Transportation.................
Pilot Training..................       1,550,000         106,581         319,743            6.88           20.63
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Significant Alternatives Considered

    The FAA evaluated the alternative of not promulgating this AD but 
ultimately deemed that this alternative would create a significant 
safety hazard. This AD was prompted by reports that MRBs not certified 
for installation on Model EC 130 T2 helicopters were delivered to EC 
130 T2 helicopter operators. Because a comprehensive set of 
instructions for continued airworthiness is not available, these MRBs 
cannot be maintained properly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

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 2025-0062, which specifies procedures for 
replacing the affected MRBs with serviceable MRBs P/N 355A11003004 
[manufacturer reference 355A11-0030-04]. EASA AD 2025-0062 also 
prohibits the installation of the affected MRB on a 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 139 helicopters of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD. The 
FAA has no data to determine the number of helicopters that might need 
to replace the MRB.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts  cost      Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace MRB (up to three per      1 work-hour x $85   $106,496 (per MRB)  $106,581 (per       $14,814,759
 helicopter).                      per hour = $85                          MRB), $319,743      (minimum 1 MRB
                                   (per MRB).                              (up to three        per helicopter),
                                                                           MRBs).              $44,444,277
                                                                                               (maximum three
                                                                                               MRBs per
                                                                                               helicopter).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The FAA estimated that affected 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 percent of the
  labor hours and a general and operations manager ($108.15) working 40 percent 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 percent (See: Gross Domestic Product: Implicit Price
  Deflator, FRED (2026) fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPDEF).

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.

[[Page 61127]]

    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:

2026-19-02 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23469; Docket No. FAA-
2025-3991; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00365-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 2, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC 130 T2 
helicopters, certificated in any category, that were delivered 
before September 23, 2024.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6210, Main rotor 
blades.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the determination that helicopter 
operators received main rotor blades (MRB) that are not certified to 
be installed on their helicopters and thus, without instructions for 
continued airworthiness, cannot be properly maintained. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent MRB failure due to not maintaining 
uncertified MRBs, which, if not addressed, could result in loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0062, 
dated March 20, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0062).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0062

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0062 requires compliance in terms of 
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0062 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0062.

(i) 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 (j) 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.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Shailesh Malla, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5584; email: 
[email protected].

(k) 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 2025-0062, 
dated March 20, 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, 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 September 16, 2026.
Hollister B. Thorson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19758 Filed 9-25-26; 8:45 am]
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