AD 2026-05-13

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a tail rotor drive rear shaft that came into contact with its rear damper during a flight test. This AD requires repetitive visual inspections of the rear damper and, depending on the results, corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2026-05-13 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23286; Docket No. FAA-2025-5033; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00795-R. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 20, 2026. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6510, Tail Rotor Drive Shaft. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of a tail rotor drive rear shaft of the tail drive line coming into contact with its rear damper during a flight test. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct the tail rotor drive rear shaft contacting the rear damper during flight. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in degradation of the rear damper and its support, loss of the rear damper function, failure of the tail rotor drive rear shaft, and consequent loss of yaw control of the helicopter. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions 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 (EASA) AD 2025-0098, dated April 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0098). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0098 (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0098 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0098 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service. (3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0098 specifies contacting AH (Airbus Helicopters) to obtain approved instructions, this AD requires actions done in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. (4) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2025-0098. (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: AMOC@faa.gov. (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 Adam Hein, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4116; email: adam.hein@faa.gov. (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 2025-0098, dated April 29, 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: ADs@easa.europa.eu; 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, Room 6N-321, 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 fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on March 10, 2026. Steven W. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2026-05100 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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 28, 2025 (90 FR 54591). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0098, dated April 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0098) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI advises of a report that the tail rotor drive rear shaft of the tail drive line had come in contact with its rear damper during a flight test. This contact is expected only when the helicopter is on the ground, during transition phases of either accelerating (ramp up) or decelerating (ramp-down), when passing the shaft critical mode. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitive visual inspections of the rear damper and, depending on the results, corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct the tail rotor drive rear shaft contacting the rear damper during flight, which if not corrected, could result in degradation of the rear damper and its support, loss of the rear damper function, failure of the tail rotor drive rear shaft, and consequent loss of yaw control of the helicopter. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-5033. 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, 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 2025-0098, which specifies procedures for repetitive visual inspections of the two radii in the top area of the rear damper, the hard chrome oxide deposit on the friction bush located under the rear damper, and the rear damper supports for cracks and loose or missing fasteners and, depending on the results, performing further inspections, replacing the rear damper, or contacting the manufacturer for further corrective actions. 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 Where the MCAI specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters for repair instructions, this AD requires using a method approved by the FAA, EASA, or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD affects nine helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: Estimated Costs Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators Visual inspection of rear damper 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 $0 $85 $765 The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need these replacements: On-Condition Costs Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Replace rear damper 8 work-hours × $85 per hour = $680 $22,647 $23,327 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 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. § 39.13 [Amended] 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2026-05-13 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23286; Docket No. FAA-2025-5033; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00795-R. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 20, 2026. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6510, Tail Rotor Drive Shaft. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of a tail rotor drive rear shaft of the tail drive line coming into contact with its rear damper during a flight test. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct the tail rotor drive rear shaft contacting the rear damper during flight. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in degradation of the rear damper and its support, loss of the rear damper function, failure of the tail rotor drive rear shaft, and consequent loss of yaw control of the helicopter. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions 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 (EASA) AD 2025-0098, dated April 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0098). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0098 (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0098 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0098 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service. (3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2025-0098 specifies contacting AH (Airbus Helicopters) to obtain approved instructions, this AD requires actions done in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. (4) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2025-0098. (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: AMOC@faa.gov. (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 Adam Hein, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4116; email: adam.hein@faa.gov. (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 2025-0098, dated April 29, 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: ADs@easa.europa.eu; 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, Room 6N-321, 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 fr.inspection@nara.gov. Issued on March 10, 2026. Steven W. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.