Rule2026-08003
Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Medical Seats
Primary source
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Published
April 24, 2026
Effective
May 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH (B/E Aerospace Fischer) Medical Seats 230/305. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain medical seats that are certified for aft facing (AF) and forward facing (FF) installations have been delivered with an incorrect version of the swivel unit. This AD requires modification and reidentification of the affected medical seats. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 79 (Friday, April 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21942-21945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08003]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-3861; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00003-Q;
Amendment 39-23318; AD 2026-08-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Medical
Seats
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
certain B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH (B/E Aerospace Fischer) Medical
Seats 230/305. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain
medical seats that are certified for aft facing (AF) and forward facing
(FF) installations have been delivered with an incorrect version of the
swivel unit. This AD requires modification and reidentification of the
affected medical seats. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 11, 2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 11,
2026.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by June 8, 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.
[[Page 21943]]
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-3861; 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 Collins Aerospace material identified in this AD,
contact Collins Aerospace at B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Engineering
[verbar] Helicopter Seating, Mueller-Armack-Str. 4, 84034 Landshut,
Germany; phone: +49 871 932 480; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbd2d5ddd495ddd2c8d8d3dec9fbd8d4d7d7d2d5c895d8d4d6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c25222a23622a253f2f24293e0c2f23202025223f622f2321">[email protected]</span></a>;
website: <a href="http://collinsaerospace.com">collinsaerospace.com</a>.
<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
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2026-3861.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Buitrago Perez, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (516) 228-7368; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#457c6804131668040c17680704060a68060a16052324246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a59c88e4f3f688e4ecf788e7e4e6ea88e6eaf6e5c3c4c48bc2cad3">[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-2026-3861; Project Identifier MCAI-
2026-00003-Q'' 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 Brenda
Buitrago Perez, 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
EASA AD 2025-0294R1, dated February 9, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-0294R1) (also
referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on B/E
Aerospace Fischer Medical Seat 230/305, part number (P/N) 9613-1-35-(
), having serial numbers 3241, 3242, 3243, 3244, 3245, 3473, 3474,
3475, 3476, 3481, 3482, 3483, 3484, 3546, 3547, 3548, 3549, 3575, 3576,
3577, 3578, 3591, 3646, 3647, 3648, 3649, 3703, 3958, 3959, 3960, 3961,
4114, 4115, 4116, 4117, 4118, 4119, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4131, 4132, 4133,
4134, 4135, 4175, 4180, 4202, 4203, 4204, 4205, 4206, 4207, 4208, 4209,
4210, 4211, 4212 and 4213, installed on, but not limited to, Airbus
Helicopters Deutschland (AHD) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 helicopters,
Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters, and Bell Textron
Inc. Model 412 helicopters. The MCAI states that a determination was
made that certain seats that are certified for AF and FF installations
have been delivered with an incorrect version of the swivel unit, which
has been certified only for AF installation. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address an incorrect version of the swivel unit on these medical
seats. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in injuries
to the occupant during an emergency landing.
FAA's Determination
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 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Collins Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin SB 9613-
005, Issue D, dated December 3, 2025. This material specifies
procedures for modifying the AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-1 into
an FF and AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-2 and restoring the
approved design data and the certified level of safety for the affected
variants of the Medical Seats 230/305. 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.
AD Requirements
This AD requires either installing a placard on the affected
medical seat or modifying and reidentifying of an affected medical
seat, which is considered a terminating action for the actions required
by this AD.
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 requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule.
The affected seats that were delivered with an incorrect swivel unit do
not meet the approved crashworthiness configuration for forward-facing
installations; therefore, the FAA has determined that the corrective
action must be accomplished before further flight, in order to prevent
injuries to the occupant during an
[[Page 21944]]
emergency landing. This compliance time is shorter than the time
necessary for the public to comment and for publication of the final
rule. Accordingly, 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 forgo 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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 59 medical seats. The FAA
estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost on
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per U.S.
product operators
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Modify and reidentify medical seat........ 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $25 $110 $6,490
$85.
Install a placard on an affected medical 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = 0 85 5,015
seat. $85.
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Either the modification or the placard requirement would be
required by this AD. The placard would be a minimal parts cost.
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.
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:
2026-08-10 B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Medical Seats: Amendment 39-
23318; Docket No. FAA-2026-3861; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00003-
Q.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 11, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
(1) This AD applies to B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH (B/E Aerospace
Fischer) Medical Seat 230/305 with a part number (P/N) and serial
number combination listed in Table 1--affected P/Ns, in Paragraph
1.1 SB [Service Bulletin] Effectivity of Collins Aerospace Alert
Service Bulletin (ASB) SB 9613-005, Issue D, dated December 3, 2025
(Collins Aerospace ASB SB 9613-005, Issue D).
(2) These seats are known to be installed on but not limited to:
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland (AHD) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117
helicopters, Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters, and
Bell Textron Inc. Model 412 helicopters, certificated in any
category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2520, Passenger
compartment equipment.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a determination that certain medical
seats that are certified for aft facing (AF) and forward facing (FF)
installations have been delivered with an incorrect version of the
swivel unit. The FAA is issuing this AD to address an incorrect
version of the swivel unit on these medical seats. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in injuries to the
occupant during an emergency landing.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
For medical seats identified in paragraph (c) of this AD, before
further flight after the effective date of this AD, accomplish one
of the following:
(1) Install a placard with the words ``Do not occupy'' on the
affected medical seat; or
(2) Modify each AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-1 into an FF
and AF certified swivel unit P/N 9715-2 in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions paragraphs 3.1.2 and 3.2 of Collins
Aerospace ASB SB 9613-005, Issue D. This modification is considered
a terminating action for this AD.
(h) Credit for Previous Actions
This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, if those actions were performed before
the effective date of this AD using Collins Aerospace ASB, SB 9613-
005, Issue A, dated August 8, 2024; Issue B, dated October 24, 2024;
or Issue C, dated November 13, 2024.
[[Page 21945]]
(i) Special Flight Permits
Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where the
actions of this AD can be accomplished, provided an affected medical
seat identified in paragraph (c) of this AD is not occupied in the
FF configuration.
(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)(1) of
this AD and email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#86c7cbc9c5c6e0e7e7a8e1e9f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="16575b59555670777738717960">[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.
(k) Additional Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Brenda Buitrago
Perez, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-7368; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#794054382f2a5438302b543b383a36543a362a391f1818571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="360f1b7760651b777f641b747775791b7579657650575718515940">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Material that is not incorporated by reference can be found
at the contact information identified in paragraph (l)(3) of this
AD.
(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) Collins Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin SB 9613-005, Issue
D, dated December 3, 2025.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Collins Aerospace material identified in this AD,
contact Collins Aerospace at B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH Engineering
[verbar] Helicopter Seating, Mueller-Armack-Str. 4, 84034 Landshut,
Germany; phone: +49 871 932 480; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f262129206129263c2c272a3d0f2c20232326213c612c2022"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f262129206129263c2c272a3d0f2c20232326213c612c2022">[email protected]</span></a>;
website: <a href="http://collinsaerospace.com">collinsaerospace.com</a>.
(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 <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#6e081c4007001d1e0b0d1a0701002e000f1c0f40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="472135692e2934372224332e2829072926352669202831">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on April 20, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-08003 Filed 4-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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