FAA Updates Inspection Timing for Airbus Helicopter Gearbox Safety Rule
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This rule keeps existing safety inspections in place for certain Airbus Helicopters models and fixes mistakes in the timing of those inspections. Operators must continue checking the main gearbox bevel wheel and magnetic plug for particles, and must take corrective action when needed. The rule affects owners, operators, and maintenance teams working with listed AS350, AS355, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. The practical change is not a new inspection program, but corrected compliance intervals that maintenance teams need to follow from July 14, 2026.
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Key Changes
- Supersedes FAA Airworthiness Directive 2025-06-04 for listed Airbus Helicopters models
- Keeps required inspections of the main gearbox bevel wheel and magnetic plug
- Corrects errors in the inspection interval compliance times
Obligations
What this law requires
Continue repetitively inspecting the main gearbox (MGB) bevel wheel for particles on affected Airbus Helicopters AS350, AS355, EC130B4, and EC130T2 model helicopters, using the corrected compliance intervals required by AD 2026-12-03.
Continue repetitively inspecting the main gearbox (MGB) magnetic plug for particles on affected Airbus Helicopters AS350, AS355, EC130B4, and EC130T2 model helicopters, using the corrected compliance intervals required by AD 2026-12-03.
Perform required corrective actions if particles are found during inspections of the MGB bevel wheel or MGB magnetic plug on affected helicopters.
Do not install an affected main gearbox on an affected Airbus Helicopters AS350, AS355, EC130B4, or EC130T2 helicopter unless the airworthiness directive requirements for installation are met.