[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 15, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48256-48259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19554]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-3431; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01291-R;
Amendment 39-23170; AD 2025-20-17]
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 H160-B
[[Page 48257]]
helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of broken main gearbox
(MGB) right hand (RH) center and rear rail support assemblies. This AD
requires repetitively inspecting the MGB RH and left hand (LH) center
rail support for cracks and, depending on the results of these
inspections, accomplishing corrective actions. This AD prohibits the
installation of certain part-numbered MGB support assemblies 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 30, 2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 30,
2025.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by December 1, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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.
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 regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-3431; 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:
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: [email protected];
website: easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA
website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also available at regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2025-3431.
You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-3431.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margot Perez Sosa, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (316) 941-1287; email: [email protected].
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
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-3431; Project
Identifier MCAI-2025-01291-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
regulations.gov, 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 Margot
Perez Sosa, 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 2025-0165, dated July 29, 2025 (EASA
AD 2025-0165) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe
condition on Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. The MCAI
states a report of the MGB RH center and rear rail support assemblies
were found broken. Additionally, after further inspections, the square
bearings were also found broken. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the MGB support assemblies. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in loss of the cowling in-flight, which could
cause an impact with the main rotor blades and could result in a loss
of control of the helicopter.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-3431.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0165, which specifies procedures for
repetitively inspecting the MGB center and rear rail supports and the
correspondent square housing bearings and, depending on the results of
these inspections, replacing the center rail support, the rear rail
support, or the square housing bearing.
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
2025-0165, described previously, except for any differences identified
as exceptions in the regulatory text of this 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 48258]]
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 2025-0165 is incorporated
by reference in this AD. This AD requires compliance with EASA AD 2025-
0165 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 2025-0165 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 2025-0165. Material required by
EASA AD 2025-0165 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2025-3431 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 make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this because
the failure of the MGB center support could lead to loss of the cowling
in flight and consequently cause an impact with the main rotor blades,
which could lead to loss of control of the helicopter. For this reason,
depending on the condition of your helicopter, the initial actions
required by this AD must be accomplished within 55 hours time-in-
service, which is shorter than the time necessary for the public to
comment and for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to
the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and
comment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because 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
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 12 helicopters of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
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Cost on
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per U.S.
product operators
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Inspect center rail supports.............. 0.50 work-hours x $85 per $0 $42.50 $510
hour = $42.50.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of
helicopters that might need these replacements.
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replace LH center rail support............. 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85... $4,537 $4,622
Replace LH rear rail support............... 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85... 2,063 2,148
Replace square housing bearing............. 0.25 work-hours x $85 per hour = 132 153.25
$21.25.
Replace RH center rail support............. 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85... 4,537 4,622
Replace RH rear rail support............... 1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85... 2,063 2,148
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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
[[Page 48259]]
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:
2025-20-17 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23170; Docket No. FAA-
2025-3431; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01291-R.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 30, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5320, Fuselage
Miscellaneous Structure.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of broken main gearbox (MGB)
right hand (RH) center and rear rail support assemblies. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the MGB support assemblies.
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of the
cowling in-flight, which could cause an impact with the main rotor
blades and could result in a loss of control of the helicopter.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Requirements
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 (EASA) AD
2025-0165, dated July 29, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0165).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0165
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0165 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0165 requires compliance in terms of
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(3) Where EASA AD 2025-0165 specifies ``Flight Hours'' in the
column heading of Table 1, this AD requires replacing that text with
``Hours time-in-service as of the effective date of this AD''.
(4) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0165 specifies
``if necessary, clean the square housing bearing'', this AD requires
replacing that text with ``clean the square housing bearing''.
(5) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0165 specifies
to install a ``new'' part, this AD requires replacing that text with
``new (never installed)'' part.
(6) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0165 specifies
to discard certain parts, this AD requires removing those parts from
service.
(7) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0165.
(i) 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 (j) of
this AD and email to: [email protected].
(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.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Margot Perez Sosa,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 941-1287; email:
[email protected].
(k) 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 2025-0165,
dated July 29, 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: [email protected]; 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, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-
321, 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 www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on October 9, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-19554 Filed 10-14-25; 8:45 am]
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