Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of the inability to operate the jettisoning function of a window due to a blocked jettisoning mechanism. This proposed AD would require removing the jettisonable windows, cleaning the ropes of the jettisonable windows, and performing an operational test of the windows jettison systems. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64809-64811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20885]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 13, 2026 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 64809]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-11806; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00589-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This proposed AD 
was prompted by a report of the inability to operate the jettisoning 
function of a window due to a blocked jettisoning mechanism. This 
proposed AD would require removing the jettisonable windows, cleaning 
the ropes of the jettisonable windows, and performing an operational 
test of the windows jettison systems. 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 27, 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-2026-11806; 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#2d6c695e6d484c5e4c0348585f425d4c034858"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0f1f4c3f0d5d1c3d19ed5c5c2dfc0d19ed5c5">[email&#160;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: Aryanna Sanchez, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (520) 990-9321; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3c2d1dac2cdcdc28dd78dd0c2cdc0cbc6d9e3c5c2c28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b6a79726a65656a257f25786a6568636e714b6d6a6a256c647d">[email&#160;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-2026-11806; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2026-00589-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 
Aryanna Sanchez, 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 2026-0116, dated June 15, 2026 (EASA 
AD 2026-0116) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 
condition on Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. The MCAI 
states that an occurrence of the inability to operate the jettisoning 
function of a window was reported. The MCAI further states that a 
manufacturer investigation revealed the presence of white particles 
caused by fire retardant residue on the rope of the jettisoning system 
which prevented the rope from sliding and blocked the jettison 
mechanism of the window. This condition, if not addressed, could result 
in a reduced capability to evacuate helicopter occupants during an 
emergency and 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-2026-11806.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2026-0116, which specifies procedures for 
removing the jettisonable windows, cleaning the ropes of the 
jettisonable windows, and performing an operational test of the windows 
jettison systems. This material is reasonably available because the 
interested parties

[[Page 64810]]

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 the material described previously, as incorporated by reference, 
except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory 
text of this AD. See ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the 
MCAI'' for a discussion of the general differences included in this 
proposed AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    Where the MCAI specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters for 
corrective action instructions, this proposed AD would require using a 
method approved by the FAA, EASA, or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design 
Organization Approval.

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, the FAA proposes to incorporate 
EASA AD 2026-0116 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD 
would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2026-0116 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 2026-0116 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 2026-0116. Material required by 
EASA AD 2026-0116 for compliance will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 
under Docket No. FAA-2026-11806 after the FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 17 helicopters 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove, clean, and reinstall            1 work-hour x $85 per             $2,179          $2,689         $45,713
 jettisonable windows (6 per             hour = $85 (per window).
 helicopter).
Perform operational test of windows     2 work-hours x $85 per                 0             170           2,890
 jettison systems.                       hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed 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 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:

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2026-11806; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2026-00589-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 27, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

[[Page 64811]]

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5220, Emergency 
exits.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of the inability to operate the 
jettisoning function of a window due to a blocked jettisoning 
mechanism. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the inability to 
jettison the window(s) during an emergency. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could result in a reduced capability to evacuate 
helicopter occupants during an emergency and 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 paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2026-0116, 
dated June 15, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0116).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2026-0116

    (1) Where EASA AD 2026-0116 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2026-0116 specifies 
contacting AH (Airbus Helicopters) for applicable corrective action 
instructions if any discrepancy is detected during the operational 
test, this AD requires, before further flight, performing these 
actions in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, 
International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus 
Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 
the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Where EASA AD 2026-0116 defines ``Affected parts,'' this AD 
requires replacing that text with ``any part having a part number 
(P/N) and manufacturer P/N, as applicable, identified in the 
Applicability, Components affected, of the Airbus Helicopters Alert 
Service Bulletin ASB H160-52-20-0004, Issue 001, dated June 4, 
2026.''
    (4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2026-0116.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    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 (j) of 
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3e2eeece0e3c5c2c28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3828e8c8083a5a2a2eda4acb5">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. 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.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Aryanna Sanchez, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (520) 990-9321; email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#68091a1109060609461c461b09060b000d12280e0909460f071e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ceafbcb7afa0a0afe0bae0bdafa0ada6abb48ea8afafe0a9a1b8">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 2026-0116, 
dated June 15, 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#6021241320050113014e0515120f10014e0515"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90d1d4e3d0f5f1e3f1bef5e5e2ffe0f1bef5e5">[email&#160;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 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#aec8dc80c7c0dddecbcddac7c1c0eec0cfdccf80c9c1d8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fe988cd097908d8e9b9d8a979190be909f8c9fd0999188">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

    Issued on October 8, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20885 Filed 10-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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