Rule2026-07170
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 14, 2026
Effective
April 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is removing Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2026-01-51, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 required replacing the upper and lower pitch rod end bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with new pitch rod end bearings and reporting information after accomplishment of the replacement. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 also prohibited installing any affected main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings on any helicopter, unless it is a serviceable part. The FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51 to address the structural failure of the main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings. Since the FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51, the manufacturer determined the failure of the main rotor pitch rod end was caused by an inadequate maintenance procedure and that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition and therefore no AD is warranted. The FAA concurs and removes Emergency AD 2026-01-51.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19076-19078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07170]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00008-R;
Amendment 39-23249; AD 2026-01-51 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; removal.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is removing Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2026-01-51, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B
helicopters. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 required replacing the upper and
lower pitch rod end bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with
new pitch rod end bearings and reporting information after
accomplishment of the replacement. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 also
prohibited installing any affected main rotor lower and upper pitch rod
end bearings on any helicopter, unless it is a serviceable part. The
FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51 to address the structural failure of
the main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings. Since the FAA
issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51, the manufacturer determined the failure
of the main rotor pitch rod end was caused by an inadequate maintenance
procedure and that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition
and therefore no AD is warranted. The FAA concurs and removes Emergency
AD 2026-01-51.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 14, 2026.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by May 29, 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-2026-0732; 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817)
222-4130; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ff959e9c909dd199968b9c97bf999e9ed1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cda7acaea2afe3aba4b9aea58dabacace3aaa2bb">[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
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-
2026-00008-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
[[Page 19077]]
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 Jacob Fitch, 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, previously
issued Emergency AD 2026-0001-E, dated January 8, 2026; corrected
January 9, 2026 (EASA Emergency AD 2026-0001-E), to correct an unsafe
condition on all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. The FAA
issued corresponding Emergency AD 2026-01-51, Amendment 39-23249,
directly to affected owners and operators on January 12, 2026, and
later in the Federal Register (91 FR 4431, February 2, 2026) (Emergency
AD 2026-01-51), for those helicopters, as an interim AD. Emergency AD
2026-01-51 required replacing the upper and lower pitch rod end
bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with new pitch rod end
bearings and reporting information after accomplishment of the
replacement. Emergency AD 2026-01-51 was prompted by a report of the
main rotor pitch rod rupturing during flight. The FAA issued Emergency
AD 2026-01-51 to address the structural failure of the main rotor lower
and upper pitch rod end bearings.
Actions Since Emergency AD 2026-01-51 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-01-51, EASA issued AD 2026-
0001-E-CN, dated March 10, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0001-E-CN) (also referred
to as the MCAI), to cancel EASA Emergency AD 2026-0001-E. EASA AD 2026-
0001-E-CN states that the manufacturer determined after further
investigations the rupture of a main rotor pitch rod end during flight
was caused by an inadequate maintenance procedure applied by an
operator. The MCAI further states that the manufacturer confirmed that
fatigue strength of a pitch rod with no permanent plastic deformation
is in line with Model H160-B helicopter certification. Consequently,
the unsafe condition addressed by EASA Emergency AD 2026-0001-E is no
longer supported by the data and has been canceled.
FAA's Conclusions
Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that Emergency
AD 2026-01-51 is no longer appropriate. Accordingly, this AD removes
Emergency AD 2026-01-51. Removal of Emergency AD 2026-01-51 does not
preclude the FAA from issuing another course of action in the future.
This AD terminates all actions of Emergency AD 2026-01-51.
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 forego prior notice and comment
procedures 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.
The actions required by Emergency AD 2026-01-51 are unwarranted
because further investigations have shown that the airworthiness
concern addressed by that AD is not an unsafe condition. Accordingly,
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the foregoing reasons,
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.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
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.
Related Costs of Compliance
This AD adds no costs. This AD removes Emergency AD 2026-01-51 from
14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators are no longer required to show
compliance with that Emergency AD.
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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2026-01-51, Amendment 39-23249 (91
FR 4431, February 2, 2026), and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
2026-01-51 R1 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23249; Docket No.
FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00008-R.
[[Page 19078]]
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 14, 2026.
(b) Affected AD
This AD replaces Emergency AD 2026-01-51, Amendment 39-23249 (91
FR 4431, February 2, 2026) (Emergency AD 2026-01-51).
(c) Applicability
This action applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B
helicopters, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6200, Main Rotor
System.
(e) Terminating Action
This AD terminates all requirements of Emergency AD 2026-01-51.
(f) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Jacob Fitch,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-4130; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503a31333f327e3639243338103631317e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d575c5e525f135b54495e557d5b5c5c135a524b">[email protected]</span></a>.
(g) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on April 9, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-07170 Filed 4-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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