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Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
• 14 CFR Part 39
• [Docket No. FAA-2025-5043; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00780-R; Amendment 39-23279; AD 2026-05-06]
• RIN 2120-AA64
( printed page 12287)
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, and SA330J helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracks found on arms of the tail rotor (TR) pitch change spider due to a load increase originating from degraded bearing stacks. This AD requires reduced life limit intervals for the affected bearing stack and requires replacing the affected bearing stack before exceeding these intervals. This AD also prohibits the installation of the affected bearing stack on a helicopter, unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective April 17, 2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket:
You may examine the AD docket at
regulations.gov
under Docket No. FAA-2025-5043; 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 Safety 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.
You may find this 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-2025-5043.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Yeshiambel, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4133; email:
michael.m.yeshiambel@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS 332L1, and SA330J helicopters. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register
on December 8, 2025 (90 FR 56699). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2024-0250, dated December 20, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0250) (also referred to as the MCAI), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that there were reports…
Fonte: Federal Register (federalregister.gov). Texto original em inglês.