Document Headings
Document headings vary by document type but may contain
the following:
•
the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
•
the number of the CFR title and the number of each part
the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly
related to
•
the agency docket number / agency internal file number
•
the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in
the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory
Actions
See the
Document Drafting Handbook
for more details.
Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
• 14 CFR Part 39
• [Docket No. FAA-2025-1735; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00408-R; Amendment 39-23199; AD 2025-24-04]
• RIN 2120-AA64
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-20-16, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS 355-F, AS 355-F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters and certain Model AS 350B3 helicopters. AD 2021-20-16 required repetitive cleaning and visual and detailed inspections of the right-hand side of the vertical fin spar and vertical fin upper attachments for discrepancies (cracking) with corrective action, if necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-20-16, Airbus Helicopters developed a modification of the upper fin assembly. This AD requires the same actions as AD 2021-20-16 and replacement of the upper fin assembly with a modified upper fin assembly, which constitutes a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective January 12, 2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 12, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket:
You may examine the AD docket at
regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2025-1735; 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 address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For European Union Aviation Agency (EASA) material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email:ADs@easa.europa.eu;
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, 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 atregulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2025-1735.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Warwick, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5225; email:
Steven.R.Warwick@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-20-16, Amendment 39-21754 (86 FR 57550, dated October 18, 2021) (AD 2021-20-16). AD 2021-20-16 applied to Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS 355-F, AS 355-F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters, all serial numbers, and Model AS 350B3 helicopters, all serial numbers e…
Fonte: Federal Register (federalregister.gov). Texto original em inglês.