Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Published
- Sep 1, 2026
- Comments close
- Oct 16, 2026
- Citation
- 91 FR 56081
- Docket
- Docket No. FAA-2026-8790, Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01793-R
- Agencies
- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a new safety measure for certain Airbus Helicopters SA330J models. The proposal keeps in place inspections that check for a gap between the main‑gearbox oil‑cooling fan and a nearby bearing housing, and it requires replacement of the fan’s rotor bearings when needed. It also extends the deadline for installing an upgraded bearing assembly that permanently fixes the problem, and it bars the use of any fan rotor bearings or assemblies that don’t meet the new requirements. The goal is to prevent potential gearbox failures that could jeopardize flight safety. The rule is issued by the FAA, the transport‑sector agency that oversees aircraft safety in the United States. It applies to owners, operators, and maintenance providers of the affected SA330J helicopters, as well as anyone who might install or service the main‑gearbox fan rotor bearings on those aircraft. The notice was published on September 1, 2026, and comments must be submitted by October 16, 2026. After the comment period, the FAA will review the feedback and, if it proceeds, will issue a final rule that makes the new requirements official. Once finalized, the extended compliance timeline will give operators additional time to install the improved bearing assembly while continuing the required inspections.
AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.
Official abstract
The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-08-06, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters Model SA330J helicopters. AD 2025-08-06 requires repetitively inspecting for a gap between the main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan assembly rotor blade and the upper section of the guide vane bearing housing, replacing the MGB fan rotor bearings with serviceable bearings if necessary, and at a later compliance time replacing the MGB fan rotor bearing assembly with an improved MGB fan rotor bearing assembly, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-08-06, the FAA has determined that the compliance time for installing the improved MGB fan rotor bearing assembly should be extended. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2025-08-06 and would increase the compliance time for installing the improved MGB fan rotor bearing assembly. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing any MGB fan rotor bearings and any MGB fan rotor bearing assembly, unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
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