[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51605-51607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20092]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-3991; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00365-R]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) Model EC 130 T2 helicopters.
This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that helicopter
operators received main rotor blades (MRB) that are not certified to be
installed on their helicopters and thus, without instructions for
continued airworthiness, cannot be properly maintained. This proposed
AD would require replacing the affected parts with serviceable parts
and would prohibit installing the affected MRBs on Airbus Model EC 130
T2 helicopters. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by January 2, 2026.
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-2025-3991; 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:
For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
material identified in this proposed 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.
You may view this material at the FAA, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shailesh Malla, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (817) 222-5584; email: [email protected].
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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-3991;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00365-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
regulations.gov, 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
Shailesh Malla, 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 2025-0062, dated March 20, 2025
(EASA AD 2025-0062) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on Airbus Model EC 130 T2 helicopters, all serial
numbers, that were delivered before September 23, 2024 [date of EASA
Form 52 or equivalent statement of conformity]. The MCAI states that
part number (P/N) 355A11003002 [manufacturer reference 355A11-0030-02]
MRBs were delivered to EC 130 T2 helicopter operators; these affected
MRBs are not certified for installation on EC 130 T2 helicopters.
Furthermore, a comprehensive set of instructions for continued
airworthiness is not available and remains unavailable at the time this
proposed AD is published. It is uncertain whether they will be
available at the time our final rule is published, thus these MRBs
cannot be maintained properly. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent
MRB failure due to not maintaining uncertified MRBs. This condition, if
not addressed, could result in loss of control of the helicopter.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-3991.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0062, which specifies procedures for
replacing the affected MRBs with serviceable MRBs P/N 355A11003004
[manufacturer reference 355A11-0030-04]. EASA AD 2025-0062 also
prohibits the installation of the affected MRB on a helicopter.
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.
[[Page 51606]]
FAA's Determination
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 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 MCAI, described previously as incorporated by reference, 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 civil aviation
authority (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 2025-0062 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2025-0062 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 2025-0062 does not mean that
operators need to 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-
0062. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0062 for compliance will be
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-3991 after the
FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 111 helicopters of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD. The FAA has no data to determine the number of helicopters that
might need to replace the MRB.
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replace MRB (up to three per 1 work-hour x $85 per $106,496 (per MRB).... $106,581 $11,830,491
helicopter). hour = $85.
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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
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-2025-3991; Project Identifier
MCAI-2025-00365-R.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by January 2, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC 130 T2
helicopters, certificated in any category, that were delivered
before September 23, 2024.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6210, Main rotor
blades.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the determination that helicopter
operators received main rotor blades (MRB) that are not certified to
be installed on their helicopters and thus, without instructions for
continued airworthiness, cannot be properly maintained. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent MRB failure due to not maintaining
uncertified MRBs, which, if not addressed, could result in loss of
control of the helicopter.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
[[Page 51607]]
(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, EASA AD 2025-0062, dated March 20, 2025 (EASA AD
2025-0062).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0062
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-00062 requires compliance in terms of
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0062 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0062.
(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 Shailesh Malla,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5584; email:
[email protected].
(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 2025-0062,
dated March 20, 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 28, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-20092 Filed 11-17-25; 8:45 am]
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