Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model SA 365 N helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of tightening torque loss on the input flange nut due to circular wear on the faces of the flange, the slip ring, and the input flange. This condition, if not addressed, could lead to degradation or jamming of the input roller bearings and loss of yaw control of the helicopter. This AD requires repetitive functional inspections (checks) and, depending on the results of the inspections, corrective actions. 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 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67439-67442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21854]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-11815; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00154-R; 
Amendment 39-23499; AD 2026-21-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

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 all 
Airbus Helicopters Model SA 365 N helicopters. This AD was prompted by 
reports of tightening torque loss on the input flange nut due to 
circular wear on the faces of the flange, the slip ring, and the input 
flange. This condition, if not addressed, could lead to degradation or 
jamming of the input roller bearings and loss of yaw control of the 
helicopter. This AD requires repetitive functional inspections (checks) 
and, depending on the results of the inspections, corrective actions. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 12, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 12, 
2026.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by December 11, 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-2026-11815; 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 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#a7e6e3d4e7c2c6d4c689c2d2d5c8d7c689c2d2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8fcecbfccfeaeefceea1eafafde0ffeea1eafa">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>; 
website: easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA 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-2026-11815.

[[Page 67440]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Kenward, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (817) 222-5257; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#365758425e59584f1854185d5358415744527650575718515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="89e8e7fde1e6e7f0a7eba7e2ece7fee8fbedc9efe8e8a7eee6ff">[email&#160;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-2026-11815; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2026-00154-R'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information 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 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 2026-0029, dated February 12, 2026 
(EASA AD 2026-0029) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an 
unsafe condition on all Airbus Helicopters Model SA 365 N helicopters. 
The MCAI states that occurrences were reported of a tightening torque 
loss on the input flange nut, due to circular wear on the faces of the 
flange, the slip ring, and the input flange. This condition, if not 
addressed, could lead to degradation or jamming of the input roller 
bearings and loss of yaw control of the helicopter. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-11815.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2026-0029, which specifies procedures for 
repetitive functional checks (inspections) of the tail gear box part 
number 365A33500000 for non-displacement of the tail gear box (TGB) 
input flange and, depending on the results of the inspections, 
corrective actions. These corrective actions include gauging the non-
displacement of the input flange with a comparator gauge and contacting 
Airbus Helicopters for a repair solution before resuming flights if the 
comparator gauge confirms a value more than or equal to 0.1 millimeters 
(.0039 inches), as specified in the service material referenced in EASA 
AD 2026-0029.
    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 AD after determining that the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 
2026-0029, described previously as incorporated by reference, except 
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of 
this AD. See ``Differences Between this AD and the MCAI'' for a 
discussion of the general differences included in this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the Referenced Material

    Where EASA AD 2026-0029 and the material referenced in EASA AD 
2026-0029 specify to contact Airbus Helicopters if the comparator gauge 
confirms a value more than or equal to 0.03 mm, or after completing an 
oil sample analysis, this AD requires corrective actions to be done in 
accordance with a method approved by the Manager, International 
Validation Branch, FAA; EASA; or Airbus Helicopters Design Organization 
Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the 
DOA-authorized signature.

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, EASA AD 2026-0029 is incorporated 
by reference in this AD. This AD requires compliance with EASA AD 2026-
0029 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any 
differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD. 
Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular 
section in EASA AD 2026-0029 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 2026-0029. Material required by 
EASA AD 2026-0029 for compliance will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 
under Docket No. FAA-2026-11815 after this AD is published.

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

[[Page 67441]]

make rules effective in less than thirty days, upon a finding of good 
cause.
    There are currently no domestic operators of these products. 
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
unnecessary, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the 
foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    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 the 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

    There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no 
helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.

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:

2026-21-10 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23499; Docket No. FAA-
2026-11815; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00154-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 12, 
2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters SA 365 N helicopters, 
certified in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6520, Tail rotor 
gearbox.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of tightening torque loss on the 
input flange nut due to circular wear on the faces of the flange, 
the slip ring, and the input flange. This condition, if not 
addressed, could lead to degradation or jamming of the input roller 
bearings and loss of yaw control of the helicopter.

(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 (EASA) AD 
2026-0029, dated February 12, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0029).

(h) Exceptions

    (1) Where EASA AD 2026-0029 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2026-0029 requires compliance in terms of 
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
    (3) Where EASA AD 2026-0029 or the material referenced in EASA 
AD 2026-0029 specifies ``check'', this AD requires replacing that 
text with ``inspection''.
    (4) Where EASA AD 2026-0029 and the material referenced in EASA 
AD 2026-0029 specify to contact the manufacturer if the comparator 
gauge confirms a value more than or equal to 0.03 mm, or after 
completing an oil sample analysis, this AD requires corrective 
actions in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, 
International Validation Branch, FAA; EASA; or Airbus Helicopters 
Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the 
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2026-0029 specifies 
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, 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 identified in paragraph (k) of 
this AD and email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#01404c4e42416760602f666e77"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d495999b9794b2b5b5fab3bba2">[email&#160;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) 222-5257; email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#73121d071b1c1d0a5d115d18161d04120117331512125d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1d7c736975727364337f337678736a7c6f795d7b7c7c337a726b">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

(l) 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) EASA AD 2026-
0029, dated February 12, 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#d39297a093b6b2a0b2fdb6a6a1bca3b2fdb6a6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c3d380f3c191d0f1d5219090e130c1d521909">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may 
find the EASA material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.

[[Page 67442]]

    (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#c2a4b0ecabacb1b2a7a1b6abadac82aca3b0a3eca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c4a5e0245425f5c494f584543426c424d5e4d024b435a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

    Issued on October 19, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21854 Filed 10-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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