2026-22400·DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

Proposed RuleComment Period OpenComments open

Published: Nov 3, 2026
Comments close: Dec 18, 2026
Citation: 91 FR 69230
Docket: Docket No. FAA-2026-13795, Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00716-R
Agencies: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Federal Aviation Administration

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a new safety rule for several Airbus‑Helicopter models – the AS350B2, AS350B3 and EC130B4. The rule is being issued because a recent incident showed that a fuse cover could partially block a pilot’s pedal, creating a risk of loss of control. To eliminate that danger, the FAA would require owners to replace the problematic fuse cover with a modified part and to label the new part clearly, and it would ban the use of the original fuse cover on any helicopter. The regulation is being issued by the FAA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It applies to anyone who operates, maintains, or services the affected helicopter models – primarily commercial operators, charter services, flight schools and private owners. The notice was published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2026, and the FAA is accepting public comments until December 18, 2026. After the comment period, the agency will review the feedback and decide whether to adopt the rule as a final airworthiness directive. If adopted, the required modifications would become mandatory for the affected helicopters.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

Official abstract

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, AS350B3, and EC130B4 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an occurrence of partial blocking of a pilot pedal. This proposed AD would require modifying and reidentifying an affected fuse cover and would prohibit installing an affected fuse cover on any helicopter. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.