Rule2025-20575
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
Primary source
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Published
November 21, 2025
Effective
December 8, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This AD was prompted by a determination that the service life limit of the center shaft assembly needs to be corrected because a crack could initiate on the center shaft assembly. This AD requires replacing the center shaft assembly with a serviceable center shaft assembly (either a shaft with another part number (P/N) or the same P/N with lower hours time-in-service (TIS)). This AD also prohibits installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable center shaft assembly on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52555-52558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20575]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 223 / Friday, November 21, 2025 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 52555]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-4004; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01666-R;
Amendment 39-23195; AD 2025-23-52]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. The FAA
previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and
operators of these helicopters. This AD was prompted by a determination
that the service life limit of the center shaft assembly needs to be
corrected because a crack could initiate on the center shaft assembly.
This AD requires replacing the center shaft assembly with a serviceable
center shaft assembly (either a shaft with another part number (P/N) or
the same P/N with lower hours time-in-service (TIS)). This AD also
prohibits installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable
center shaft assembly on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 8, 2025. Emergency AD 2025-23-52,
issued on November 10, 2025, which contains the requirements of this
amendment, was effective with actual notice.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication identified in this AD as of December
8, 2025.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by January 5, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-4004; 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
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6e7e2d5e6c3c7d5c788c3d3d4c9d6c788c3d3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d09194a390b5b1a3b1feb5a5a2bfa0b1feb5a5">[email protected]</span></a>;
website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this 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, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2025-4004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William McCully, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (404) 474-5548; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#67100e0b0b0e060a490a0404120b0b1e2701060649000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="394e50555550585417545a5a4c555540795f5858175e564f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-4004; Project
Identifier MCAI-2025-01666-R'' at the beginning of your comments. The
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to William
McCully, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued Emergency AD 2025-23-52, dated November 10, 2025
(also referred to as the emergency AD), to address an unsafe condition
on Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. The FAA
sent the emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these
helicopters. The emergency AD requires replacing the center shaft
assembly with a serviceable center shaft assembly (either a shaft with
another P/N or the same P/N with lower hours TIS). The emergency AD
[[Page 52556]]
also prohibited installing a center shaft assembly that is not a
serviceable center shaft assembly on any helicopter.
The emergency AD was prompted by EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E,
dated November 7, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E) (also referred
to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the
Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition on
Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. The MCAI
states that fatigue testing revealed the service life limit of the
center shaft assembly needs to be corrected because a crack could
initiate on the center shaft assembly, P/N 350A34021401 (Manufacturer
P/N 350A34-0214-01), in the riveted area and propagate until failure.
The emergency AD was prompted by a determination that the service life
limit of the center shaft assembly needs to be corrected because a
crack could initiate on the center shaft assembly. The emergency AD is
intended to address cracking on the center shaft assembly. This
condition could result in structural failure of the tail rotor drive
shaft with consequent loss of control of a helicopter.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking on a center shaft
assembly. The unsafe condition could result in structural failure of
the tail rotor drive shaft with consequent loss of control of a
helicopter.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-4004.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E, which specifies
procedures for replacing the center shaft assembly with a serviceable
center shaft assembly (either a shaft with another P/N or the same P/N
with lower hours TIS). EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E also prohibits
installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable center
shaft assembly 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.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
(CAA) 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 is issuing
this AD after determining that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in EASA
Emergency AD 2025-0249-E, described previously, as incorporated by
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some CAA ADs as the primary
source of information for compliance with requirements for
corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with
manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E is
incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD requires compliance with
EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E in its entirety through that
incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in
the regulatory text of this AD. Using common terms that are the same as
the heading of a particular section in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E
does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For
example, where the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and
compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited
to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in
EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E. Material required by EASA Emergency AD
2025-0249-E for compliance will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-4004 after this AD is published.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C.
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
An unsafe condition exists that required the immediate adoption of
Emergency AD 2025-23-52, issued on November 10, 2025, to all known U.S.
owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA found that the risk
to the flying public justified forgoing notice and comment prior to
adoption of this rule because cracks in the center shaft assembly could
already exist and if not immediately addressed could lead to structural
failure of the tail rotor drive shaft with consequent loss of control
of a helicopter. About 100 of the 304 helicopters on the U.S. Registry
are over the fatigue threshold and will require replacement within 10
hours TIS, and about half of the affected helicopters operate 30 or
more hours TIS per month and could require replacement within 10 days.
These compliance times are shorter than the time necessary for the
public to comment and for the publication of the final rule. These
conditions still exist, therefore, notice and opportunity for prior
public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego notice and
comment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. If final
action is later identified, the FAA might consider additional
rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 304 helicopters of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
[[Page 52557]]
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replace the center shaft assembly........ 12 work-hours x $85 per $26,890 $27,910 $8,484,640
hour = $1,020.
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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
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:
2025-23-52 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23195; Docket No. FAA-
2025-4004; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01666-R.
(a) Effective Date
The FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-23-52
on November 10, 2025 (also referred to as the emergency AD),
directly to affected owners and operators. As a result of such
actual notice, that emergency AD was effective for those owners and
operators on the date it was received. This AD contains the same
requirements as the emergency AD and, for those who did not receive
actual notice, is effective on December 8, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2
helicopters, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6510, Tail Rotor
Drive Shaft.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a determination that the service life
limit of the center shaft assembly needs to be corrected because a
crack could initiate on the center shaft assembly. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address cracking on a center shaft assembly. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in structural
failure of the tail rotor drive shaft with consequent loss of
control of a helicopter.
(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 Emergency AD
2025-0249-E, dated November 7, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E).
(h) Exceptions to EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E
(1) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E refers to its effective
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E requires compliance in
terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA
Emergency AD 2025-0249-E.
(i) No Reporting and Return of Parts Requirements
Although the material referenced in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-
E specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer and to
return the parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not require any
of these actions.
(j) Special Flight Permits
Special flight permits are prohibited.
(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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e6a7aba9a5a6808787c8818990"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c0d01030f0c2a2d2d622b233a">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 Dan McCully,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 474-5548; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e89f818484818985c6858b8b9d848491a88e8989c68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b2c323737323a36753638382e3737221b3d3a3a753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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) Emergency AD
2025-0249-E, dated November 7, 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#16575265567377657738736364796677387363"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a3e2e7d0e3c6c2d0c28dc6d6d1ccd3c28dc6d6">[email protected]</span></a>; 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 FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-321, Fort
Worth, TX 76177. For information
[[Page 52558]]
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 <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#670115490e0914170204130e0809270906150649000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a7c68347374696a7f796e7375745a747b687b347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on November 17, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-20575 Filed 11-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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