SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under ADDRESSES . Include “Docket No. FAA-2026-8788; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00842-R” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this final rule because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David Wilson, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The FAA issued Emergency AD 2026-17-51, dated August 11, 2026 (Emergency AD 2026-17-51) (also referred to as the emergency AD), to address an unsafe condition on certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 222 helicopters. The FAA sent the emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The emergency AD requires removing tail rotor pitch horn part number (P/N) 222-012-774-109 and associated tail rotor pitch links from service and installing tail rotor pitch horn P/N 222-012-705-105 or P/N 222-012-705-107 and associated tail rotor pitch links as its replacement. The emergency AD also prohibits installing tail rotor pitch horn P/N 222-012-774-109 on any helicopter.

Emergency AD 2026-17-51 was prompted by Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39, dated August 10, 2026 (Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, to correct an unsafe condition on certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 222 helicopters. The MCAI states a report was received of in-flight fatigue failure of a tail rotor pitch horn due to higher stresses induced at certain critical locations on the pitch horn tangs leading to premature fatigue cracking.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address undetected cracks, remove affected tail rotor pitch horns and associated tail rotor pitch links from service, and prohibit installation of the affected tail rotor pitch horns on any helicopter. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to failure of the tail rotor pitch horn and secondary tail rotor hub components, which could result in loss of control of the helicopter.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-8788.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39, which specifies procedures for removing tail rotor pitch horn P/N 222-012-774-109 and associated tail rotor pitch links from service and installing tail rotor pitch horn P/N 222-012-705-105 or P/N 222-012-705-107 and associated tail rotor pitch links as its replacement. Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39 also prohibits installing tail rotor pitch horn P/N 222-012-774-109 on any helicopter.

This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority (CAA) of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some CAA ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39 is incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD requires compliance with Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD. Material required by Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-39 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-8788 after this AD is published.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective Date

Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency, for “good cause,” finds that those procedures are “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Under this section, an agency, upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, upon a finding of good cause.

An unsafe condition exists that required the immediate adoption of Emergency AD 2026-17-51, issued on August 11, 2026, to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA found that the risk to the flying public justified forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the tail rotor pitch horn is a critical flight control ( printed page 55448) component. The FAA has received a report of in-flight fatigue failure of a tail rotor pitch horn due to premature fatigue cracking which resulted in an accident. The FAA has no information pertaining to the extent of cracking on tail rotor pitch horns, which if not addressed, could lead to failure of the tail rotor pitch horn and secondary tail rotor hub components, which could result in loss of control of the helicopter. In addition, the affected parts must be removed from the helicopter before further flight. This compliance time is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and for the publication of the final rule. These conditions still exist, therefore, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego notice and comment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Interim Action

The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. If final action is later identified, the FAA might consider additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 15 helicopters of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the part number verification. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need this replacement:

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866, and

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

The Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: