Proposed Rule2026-19892
Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. 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
September 29, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that the safety pin of the emergency flotation system and life raft was installed on the cylinder valve of the life raft bottle assembly. This proposed AD would require inspecting the left-hand (LH) side and right-hand (RH) side of the life raft bottle assembly and, depending on the inspection results, removing the safety pin from the cylinder valve. This proposed AD would also prohibit extended overwater flights until the corrective actions are accomplished. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61364-61367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19892]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-11788; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00330-R]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD
was prompted by reports that the safety pin
[[Page 61365]]
of the emergency flotation system and life raft was installed on the
cylinder valve of the life raft bottle assembly. This proposed AD would
require inspecting the left-hand (LH) side and right-hand (RH) side of
the life raft bottle assembly and, depending on the inspection results,
removing the safety pin from the cylinder valve. This proposed AD would
also prohibit extended overwater flights until the corrective actions
are accomplished. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 13, 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-2026-11788; 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 NPRM, 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 proposed AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone +49 221 8999 000; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c3d380f3c191d0f1d5219090e130c1d521909"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0445407744616577652a6171766b74652a6171">[email protected]</span></a>; website: 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Kenward, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (817) 222-5152; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#53323d273b3c3d2a7d317d38363d24322137133532327d343c25"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="44252a302c2b2a3d6a266a2f212a33253620042225256a232b32">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-11788; Project
Identifier MCAI-2026-00330-R'' at the beginning of your comments. The
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal,
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 proposal 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 NPRM.
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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Anthony Kenward, 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
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2026-0066, dated March 27, 2026
(EASA AD 2026-0066) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters.
The MCAI states that the safety pin of the emergency flotation system
and life raft installed on the cylinder valve of the life raft bottle
assembly to ensure safety during sea (ship) transportation was not
removed prior to the affected aircraft being put into service. The MCAI
further states the safety pin must be removed before flight operations,
otherwise the life raft inflation system remains inoperative. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could prevent a life raft from
inflating during an emergency landing on water, which could result in
injury to helicopter occupants.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-11788.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2026-0066, which specifies procedures for
a one-time visual inspection of the life raft bottle assembly and,
depending on the inspection results, removing the safety pin of the
emergency flotation system and life raft from the cylinder valve.
Additionally, EASA AD 2026-0066 prohibits extended overwater flights
until the inspection is completed and corrective actions accomplished.
EASA AD 2026-0066 also specifies that a one-time overwater ferry flight
is allowed in order to accomplish the inspection and corrective
actions.
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
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 NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2026-0066, except for any differences identified as
exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed 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
[[Page 61366]]
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, the FAA proposes to incorporate
EASA AD 2026-0066 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD
would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2026-0066 in its
entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular
section in EASA AD 2026-0066 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 AD 2026-0066. Material required by
EASA AD 2026-0066 for compliance will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
under Docket No. FAA-2026-11788 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect one helicopter of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect life raft bottle assembly and, 2 work-hours x $85 per $0 $170 $170
if necessary, remove safety pin. hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:
Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA-2026-11788; Project Identifier MCAI-
2026-00330-R.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by November 13, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters,
certificated in any category, as identified in European Union
Aviation Safety Agency AD 2026-0066, dated March 27, 2026 (EASA AD
2026-0066).
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2560, Emergency
equipment; 2564, life raft.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports that the safety pin of the
emergency flotation system and life raft installed on the cylinder
valve of the life raft bottle assembly to ensure safety during sea
(ship) transportation was not removed prior to the affected aircraft
being put into service. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and
address installed safety pins. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could prevent a life raft from inflating during an
emergency landing on water, which could result in injury to
helicopter occupants.
(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 EASA AD 2026-0066.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2026-0066
(1) Where EASA AD 2026-0066 requires compliance in terms of
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2026-0066 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2026-0066 specifies ``extended overwater
flights'', for this AD replace that text with ``extended over-water
operations''.
(4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2026-0066.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2026-0066 specifies
to submit certain information, this AD does not require that action.
(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
[[Page 61367]]
identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9bdad6d4d8dbfdfafab5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d89995979b98beb9b9f6bfb7ae">[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
For more information about this AD, contact Anthony Kenward,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5152; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83e2edf7ebecedfaade1ade8e6edf4e2f1e7c3e5e2e2ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f69798829e99988fd894d89d939881978492b6909797d8919980">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2026-0066,
dated March 27, 2026.
(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#4405003704212537256a2131362b34256a2131"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b2a2f182b0e0a180a450e1e19041b0a450e1e">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may
find this 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#6c0a1e4205021f1c090f180503022c020d1e0d420b031a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b4d59054245585b4e485f4244456b454a594a054c445d">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on September 24, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19892 Filed 9-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 29, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.