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Rule2026-17583

Airworthiness Directives; Various Helicopters

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Published

August 28, 2026

Effective

October 2, 2026

Issuing agencies

Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration

Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B, EC225LP, AS 365 N3, and AS332L2 helicopters; all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+ helicopters; all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2, MBB-BK 117 D-2, and MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters; and all Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB139, AW109SP, AW139, AW169, and AW189 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports that certain rescue hoist assemblies may have been equipped with a non-conformant overload clutch assembly. This AD requires replacing each affected rescue hoist assembly with a serviceable rescue hoist assembly. This AD also prohibits installing an affected rescue hoist assembly unless certain requirements are met. 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 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55439-55444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17583]

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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 166 / Friday, August 28, 2026 / Rules
and Regulations

[[Page 55439]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-3986; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00224-R;
Amendment 39-23448; AD 2026-17-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Various Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B, EC225LP, AS 365 N3, and AS332L2
helicopters; all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1,
EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and
EC635T2+ helicopters; all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model
MBB-BK 117 C-2, MBB-BK 117 D-2, and MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters; and all
Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB139, AW109SP, AW139, AW169, and AW189
helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports that certain rescue hoist
assemblies may have been equipped with a non-conformant overload clutch
assembly. This AD requires replacing each affected rescue hoist
assembly with a serviceable rescue hoist assembly. This AD also
prohibits installing an affected rescue hoist assembly unless certain
requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

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

ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-3986; 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#66272215260307150748031314091607480313">[email&#160;protected]</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, 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-2025-3986.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Hein, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316)
946-4116; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#731217121e5d1b161a1d331512125d141c05">[email&#160;protected]</a>.

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 all Airbus Helicopters
Model H160-B, EC225LP, AS 365 N3, and AS332L2 helicopters; all Airbus
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3,
EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+ helicopters; all
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2, MBB-BK 117 D-
2, and MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters; and all Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB139,
AW109SP, AW139, AW169, and AW189 helicopters. The NPRM was published in
the Federal Register on November 19, 2025 (90 FR 52008). The NPRM was
prompted by EASA AD 2025-0051R1, dated May 7, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-
0051R1) (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 the manufacturer of the affected rescue hoists reported that
certain rescue hoist assemblies may have been equipped, during
manufacturing or maintenance, with a non-conformant overload clutch
assembly. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of
the rescue hoist assembly, which could result in injury to a person
being lifted or to persons on the ground.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing each affected
rescue hoist assembly with a serviceable rescue hoist assembly and
prohibiting installation of an affected rescue hoist assembly unless
certain requirements are met.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-3986.

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 asserted the FAA has not
adequately justified use of the good cause exception to bypass notice
and comment along with the 30-day delayed effective date and must, at a
minimum, provide an explanation why a brief comment period was
impracticable. The commenter requested that the FAA place in the docket
the accident/incident data, risk models, engineering analyses, and any
flight-hour exposure calculations used to justify good cause and the
shortened effective date. If those data do not demonstrate
justification for finding good cause to bypass notice and comment
procedures, the commenter requested that the FAA either convert this
action to an NPRM allowing comment on non-emergency portions, or limit
immediate effectiveness to the subset of configurations and operating
environments showing elevated risk.
The FAA notes that the comment was submitted in response to an NPRM
for which the FAA provided a 45-day comment period. This final rule is

[[Page 55440]]

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 clarify
whether the proposed AD requires reporting. If reporting is required,
the commenter requested that the FAA revise the proposed AD to comply
with the PRA or suspend the reporting requirement until PRA
requirements are satisfied.
The FAA notes that paragraph (i) of this AD specifies that 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 of service information fail to meet the legal and
regulatory standards for reasonable availability. The commenter called
on the FAA to provide all IBR materials freely and electronically to
the public. Alternatively, the commenter requested that complete copies
of all IBR materials be placed in the rulemaking docket and that
physical locations where those copies may be inspected be identified.
Further, the commenter requested that the FAA confirm that the Director
of the Federal Register's approval of materials incorporated by
reference was predicated on actual reasonable availability in practice.
The FAA's practices comply with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) of the
Administrative Procedure Act and 1 CFR part 51. The FAA also provides
summaries and access details in the preamble and regulatory text, makes
materials available for inspection at FAA and National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA) offices, offers publisher contact
information, and obtains formal IBR approval from the Office of the
Federal Register. These efforts are intended to ensure that all IBR
materials meet the ``reasonably available'' standard required by 1 CFR
part 51.
The FAA notes that this AD incorporates by reference EASA AD 2025-
0051R1, not the manufacturer service information referenced in that
EASA AD. The FAA posted EASA AD 2025-0051R1 to the AD docket when the
NPRM was published in the Federal Register. The material referenced in
EASA AD 2025-0051R1 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 2025-0051R1
will be available in the AD docket after this AD is published. The FAA
did not change this AD as a result of this comment.

Request To Consider Impact on Small Entities

The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA prepare an
initial regulatory flexibility analysis that takes into account parts,
labor, aircraft downtime, and specific small entity impacts.
Additionally, the commenter requested that the FAA adopt less
burdensome alternatives for small operators, such as conditional AMOC
alternatives, phased compliance, and flexible compliance intervals.
Further, the commenter requested that the FAA add an explicit statement
whether the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) applies to the proposed
AD.
The FAA has considered the AD's impact on small entities and
provides the following factual basis for its Regulatory Flexibility Act
(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 (Pub. L. 104-121, 110 Stat. 857, Mar.
29, 1996) and the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 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

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.
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 SBA definition of a small business applies to the parent company
and all affiliates as a single entity. The following table provides the
SBA size standards for all industries with at least one impacted
entity. Note that the FAA does not have entity data on 3 of the 858
affected helicopters, and those helicopters with missing entity data
are excluded from this analysis.

Small Business Size Standards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAICS code Description Size standard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
211120....................... Crude Petroleum Extraction.. 1,250 employees.
237110....................... Water and Sewer Line and $45,000,000 in annual revenue.
Related Structures
Construction/Well Drilling.
325412....................... Pharmaceutical Preparation 1,300 employees.
Manufacturing.
336411....................... Aircraft Manufacturing...... 1,500 employees.
423860....................... Transportation Equipment 175 employees.
Wholesalers.
454110....................... Electronic Shopping and Mail- $47,000,000 in annual revenue.
Order Houses.
481211....................... Nonscheduled Chartered 1,500 employees.
Helicopter & Air
Transportation.
488190....................... Other Support Activities for $40,000,000 in annual revenue.
Air Transportation.

[[Page 55441]]

522220....................... Sales Financing............. $47,000,000 in annual revenue.
524113....................... Direct Life Insurance 1,500 employees.
Carriers.
524126....................... Direct Property and Casualty 1,500 employees.
Insurance Carriers.
531120....................... Lessors of Nonresidential $34,000,000 in annual revenue.
Buildings.
532411....................... Commercial Air $45,500,000 in annual revenue.
Transportation Equipment
Rental and Leasing.
541330....................... Engineering Services........ $25,500,000 in annual revenue.
541614....................... Process, Physical $24,500,000 in annual revenue.
Distribution, and Logistics
Consulting Services.
551111....................... Offices of Bank Holding $40,000,000 in annual revenue.
Companies/Investment
Offices.
551114....................... Corporate Managing Offices.. $34,000,000 in annual revenue.
561730....................... Landscaping Services/Utility $9,500,000 in annual revenue.
Right-of-Way Clearing.
611512....................... Flight Training............. $34,000,000 in annual revenue.
621910....................... Ambulance & Medical Air $22,500,000 in annual revenue.
Transport Services.
624120....................... Services for the Elderly and $14,000,000 in annual revenue.
Persons with Disabilities.
921150....................... American Indian and Alaska No size standard.
Native Tribal Governments.
922120....................... Police Protection........... No size standard.
922160....................... Fire Protection............. No size standard.
927110....................... Space Research and No size standard.
Technology.
928110....................... National Security........... No size standard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 FAA provides the estimated number of
small entities affected by this AD:

Estimated Number of Small Entities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Number of Percent
Category Number of affected small small
entities aircraft entities entities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crude Petroleum Extraction.................................. 1 11 0 0
Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction/ 1 1 1 100
Well Drilling..............................................
Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing.................... 3 5 0 0
Aircraft Manufacturing...................................... 4 6 3 75
Transportation Equipment Wholesalers........................ 1 1 1 100
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses................... 1 2 0 0
Nonscheduled Chartered Helicopter & Air Transportation...... 97 345 21 22
Other Support Activities for Air Transportation............. 3 9 3 100
Sales Financing............................................. 3 3 0 0
Direct Life Insurance Carriers.............................. 1 1 0 0
Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers............. 1 1 0 0
Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings......................... 1 1 0 0
Commercial Air Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing.. 2 2 1 50
Engineering Services........................................ 1 1 1 100
Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting 1 1 1 100
Services...................................................
Offices of Bank Holding Companies/Investment Offices........ 1 1 0 0
Corporate Managing Offices.................................. 4 6 1 25
Landscaping Services/Utility Right-of-Way Clearing.......... 1 1 1 100
Flight Training............................................. 1 1 1 100
Ambulance & Medical Air Transport Services.................. 34 376 2 6
Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities...... 1 1 1 100
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments........ 1 4 0 0
Police Protection........................................... 12 35 0 0
Fire Protection............................................. 2 9 0 0
Space Research and Technology............................... 1 3 0 0
National Security........................................... 2 28 0 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

The FAA estimates the affected entities will incur a compliance
cost of $46,913 per helicopter. 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. The following table
displays the estimated compliance costs per small entity.

[[Page 55442]]

Cost of Compliance per Small Entity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cost as a
Affected entity Revenue affected Estimated percent of
aircraft AD cost revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aero Asset USA Inc......................................... $860,000 1 $46,913 5.46
Agustawestland Philadelphia Corp........................... 50,000,000 1 46,913 0.09
Air Center Helicopters..................................... 10,250,000 23 1,078,999 10.53
Airbus Helicopters Inc..................................... 101,730,000 1 46,913 0.05
Altair Helicopter Service LLC.............................. 16,740,000 1 46,913 0.28
Analar Corp................................................ 301,610 2 93,826 31.11
Arrow Aviation Co. LLC..................................... 22,400,000 4 187,652 0.84
Blueberry Aviation......................................... 65,300,000 1 46,913 0.07
Brim Aviation.............................................. 110,210 1 46,913 42.57
Brunner Aerospace LLC...................................... 700,000 1 46,913 6.70
Careflight (Ohio).......................................... 13,000,000 2 93,826 0.72
Classic Helicopter Service................................. 194,940 2 93,826 48.13
Coldstream Helicopters..................................... 1,880,000 1 46,913 2.50
Eurotec Vertical Flight Solutions LLC...................... 4,960,000 4 187,652 3.78
Flo Sun Aircraft Inc....................................... 143,710 1 46,913 32.64
Guardian Helicopters Inc. (Alberta)........................ 2,810,000 1 46,913 1.67
Guardian Helicopters Inc. (CA)............................. 3,600,000 1 46,913 1.30
Heli-1 Corporation......................................... 12,510,000 2 93,826 0.75
HeliService USA............................................ 5,360,000 6 281,478 5.25
Helistream Inc............................................. 3,480,000 2 93,826 2.70
Hillsboro Aviation Inc..................................... 15,290,000 1 46,913 0.31
Leonardo (AgustaWestland) Philadelphia Corp................ 50,000,000 3 140,739 0.28
Lobo Leasing............................................... 6,400,000 1 46,913 0.73
Logistics Business Services LLC............................ 10,000,000 1 46,913 0.47
Maritime Helicopters....................................... 4,530,000 1 46,913 1.04
McDermott Aviation Pty Ltd................................. 40,430,000 4 187,652 0.46
Metro Aviation Inc (Louisiana)............................. 102,000,000 98 4,597,474 4.51
Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Inc...................... 14,000,000 1 46,913 0.34
Mountain G Enterprises Inc................................. 5,700,000 1 46,913 0.82
National Test Pilot School................................. 23,500,000 1 46,913 0.20
PHI Aviation............................................... 760,000,000 20 938,260 0.12
Precision Helicopter Inc. (Oregon)......................... 5,000,000 4 187,652 3.75
Rotortrade................................................. 1,720,000 1 46,913 2.73
Seven Bar Flying Services Inc.............................. 5,430,000 2 93,826 1.73
Soloy Helicopters LLC...................................... 4,800,000 1 46,913 0.98
Sweet Helicopters.......................................... 600,000 4 187,652 31.28
Y Recreation & Therapy LLC................................. 267,400 1 46,913 17.54
Youngquist Brothers........................................ 35,000,000 1 46,913 0.13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Significant Alternatives Considered

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 certain rescue
hoist assemblies may have been equipped with, during manufacturing or
maintenance, a non-conformant overload clutch assembly. This AD
requires replacing each affected rescue hoist assembly with a
serviceable rescue hoist assembly. This AD also prohibits installing an
affected rescue hoist assembly unless certain requirements are met. The
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

Request To Provide the Regulatory Evaluation

The Citizens Rulemaking Alliance requested that the FAA add to the
AD docket a revised cost analysis of the proposed AD that includes
downtime, mission disruption, and reasonable scheduling/operational
impacts and organize the analysis by type certificate holder or mission
profile, as appropriate.
The FAA's practice is to add the regulatory evaluation of the
proposed AD in the NPRM, not as a separate document in the AD docket.
In the Costs of Compliance section of the NPRM, the FAA disclosed
the estimated number of work hours, the number of helicopters affected
on the U.S. registry, estimated parts cost, and the aggregate costs for
the U.S. fleet. The FAA has further clarified those costs in this final
rule. The FAA recognizes that operators might incur additional costs,
such as helicopter downtime. However, the FAA cannot quantify these
costs. Since the FAA provided the total known costs in the NPRM, as
further clarified by this final rule, and the commenter did not provide
additional information for the FAA to consider in its analysis, it is
not necessary to provide additional information in the AD docket.

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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0051R1. This material identifies the
affected rescue hoist assemblies and specifies procedures for replacing
the affected rescue hoist assembly with a

[[Page 55443]]

serviceable rescue hoist assembly. EASA AD 2025-0051R1 also prohibits
installing an affected rescue hoist assembly unless certain
requirements are met. 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

The MCAI applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC 175 B helicopters,
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, EC635
T1, and EC635 T3 helicopters, and Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Model MBB-BK 117 D-3m helicopters, whereas this AD does not because
those models do not have an FAA type certificate.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 858 helicopters of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost \1\ Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace rescue hoist assembly... 4 work-hours x $85 $46,573........... $46,913........... $40,251,354
per hour = $340.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The FAA estimated operators will incur $85 in costs per work hour, which is the weighted average fiscal year
(FY) 2026 fully loaded wage of an aircraft mechanic ($69.85) working 60 percent of the work hours and a
general and operations manager ($108.15) working 40 percent of the work 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), <a href="http://data.bls.gov/oes/">data.bls.gov/oes/</a>); multiplying each wage by a fringe benefit factor of 1.42
(See: Employer Cost for Employee Compensation--December 2024, BLS (2024), <a href="http://bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_03142025.pdf">bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_03142025.pdf</a>); and adjusting these 2024 wages to 2026 dollars using an implicit Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) Price Deflator of 2.8% (See: Gross Domestic Product: Implicit Price Deflator, FRED (2026)
<a href="http://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPDEF">fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPDEF</a>).

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. The FAA
recognizes that operators might incur additional costs, such as
helicopter downtime. However, the FAA cannot quantify these costs.
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,
(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

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:

2026-17-05 Various Helicopters: Amendment 39-23448; Docket No. FAA-
2025-3986; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00224-R.

(a) Effective Date

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

(b) Affected ADs

None.

This AD applies to all helicopters identified in paragraphs
(c)(1) through (4) of this AD, certificated in any category.
(1) Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B, EC225LP, AS 365 N3, and
AS332L2 helicopters.
(2) Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2,
EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+
helicopters.
(3) Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2,
MBB-BK 117 D-2, and MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters.
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(3): Helicopters with a Model MBB-BK 117
C-2e designation are Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters.
(4) Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB139, AW109SP, AW139, AW169, and
AW189 helicopters.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2500, Cabin
Equipment/Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by reports that certain rescue hoist
assemblies may have been equipped, during manufacturing or
maintenance, with a non-conformant overload clutch assembly. The FAA
is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the rescue hoist assembly.
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to failure of the
rescue hoist assembly, which could result in injury to a person
being lifted or to persons on the ground.

[[Page 55444]]

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

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 AD 2025-
0051R1, dated May 7, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0051R1).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0051R1

(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0051R1 refers to March 14, 2025 (the
effective date of EASA AD 2025-0051, dated February 28, 2025), this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where the definition of affected part in EASA AD 2025-0051R1
refers to ``the ASB'', for this AD, replace that text with ``the
applicable original issue of the alert service bulletins listed in
Ref. Publications''.
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0051R1.

(i) No Reporting or Returning of Parts

Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0051R1
specifies submitting certain information and returning parts to the
manufacturer for rework, this AD does not require those actions.

(j) 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
requirements of this AD can be accomplished provided that the rescue
hoist is not used.

(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#9ddcd0d2deddfbfcfcb3faf2eb">[email&#160;protected]</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 Adam Hein, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; phone: (316) 946-4116; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a0b0e0b0744020f03042a0c0b0b440d051c">[email&#160;protected]</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) AD 2025-0051R1,
dated May 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#08494c7b486d697b69266d7d7a677869266d7d">[email&#160;protected]</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 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#d2b4a0fcbbbca1a2b7b1a6bbbdbc92bcb3a0b3fcb5bda4">[email&#160;protected]</a>.

Issued on August 14, 2026.
Paul R. Bernado,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-17583 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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