SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed under ADDRESSES . Include “Docket No. FAA-2026-11790; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01757-R” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 the proposal 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 NPRM.

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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mahmood Shah, 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 AD 2025-13-06, Amendment 39-23072 (90 FR 28879, July 2, 2025) (AD 2025-13-06), for certain AHD Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+ helicopters. AD 2025-13-06 was prompted by an MCAI originated by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2025-0108, dated May 8, 2025, (EASA AD 2025-0108) to correct an unsafe condition identified as damage to the ball bearing control system.

AD 2025-13-06 requires a one-time visual inspection of the ball pivot, fluorescent penetrant inspection of the control rod, visual inspection and measurement of certain parts of the yaw actuator assembly, and depending on the results of these inspections, corrective actions. AD 2025-13-06 also prohibits installing an affected part unless it is a serviceable part and certain requirements are met. The FAA issued AD 2025-13-06 to detect and address damage to the ball bearing control system. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of tail rotor controls and loss of control of the helicopter.

Actions Since AD 2025-13-06 Was Issued

Since the FAA issued AD 2025-13-06, EASA superseded EASA AD 2025-0108 and issued EASA AD 2025-0260, dated November 25, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0260) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states the manufacturer developed a repetitive inspection of the ball pivot.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-11790.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0260, which specifies procedures for a one-time visual inspection of the ball pivot, a fluorescent penetrant inspection of the control rod of the yaw actuator, inspection of the yaw actuator interface connections, and a check (inspection) of the freedom of movement of the tail rotor control. Depending on the inspection results, EASA AD 2025-0260 specifies procedures for corrective actions to include further inspections and the replacement of affected parts.

In addition, EASA AD 2025-0260 specifies procedures for repetitive inspection of the ball pivot, and depending on the results of the inspections, corrective actions, which include further inspections and the replacement of affected parts. EASA AD 2025-0260 requires reporting the inspection results (including no findings) to AHD and prohibits installing ball pivot part number (P/N) 92-201-00 and P/N 92-207-00; yaw actuator assembly P/N L672M2005104, P/N L672M2005105, and P/N L672M2005106; and control rod P/N L672M2006101 and P/N L672M2006102 on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met.

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 NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2025-0260, described previously, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. See “Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI” for a discussion of the general differences included in this proposed AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

The MCAI applies to Model EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, EC635 T1, and EC635 T3 helicopters, whereas this AD does not because those models do not have an FAA type certificate.

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, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2025-0260 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2025-0260 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular ( printed page 61363) section in EASA AD 2025-0260 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to “all required actions and compliance times,” compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled “Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)” in EASA AD 2025-0260. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0260 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-11790 after the FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 377 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 replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need these replacements:

Paperwork Reduction Act

A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed regulation:

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

(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

( printed page 61364)

The Proposed Amendment

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2025-13-06, Amendment 39-23072 ( 90 FR 28879, July 2, 2025); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD): Docket No. FAA-2026-11790; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01757-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by November 13, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

This AD replaces AD 2025-13-06, Amendment 39-23072 (90 FR 28879, July 2, 2025).

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+ helicopters, certificated in any category, serial numbers up to and including 1999.

Note 1 to paragraph (c): Helicopters with an EC135P3H designation are Model EC135P3 helicopters, and helicopters with an EC135T3H designation are Model EC135T3 helicopters.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6720, Tail rotor control system.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by a report of a loss of tail rotor controls due to a broken control rod of the yaw actuator and the determination that repetitive inspection of the ball pivot is necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and address damage to the ball bearing control system. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of tail rotor controls and loss of control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0260, dated November 25, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0260).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0260

(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0260 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.

(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0260 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(3) Where EASA AD 2025-0260 refers to May 15, 2025 (the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0108), this AD requires using July 18, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-13-06).

(4) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0260 specifies “check”, this AD requires replacing that text with “inspection”.

(5) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0260 specifies to examine the close-tolerance bolt, the input lever, the rod end, the adapter, and the connector cover for wear and damage, for the purposes of this AD damage is defined as specified in paragraphs (h)(5)(i) through (iv) of this AD, as applicable.

(i) Damage for the close-tolerance bolt is defined as deformed or stripped, rounded head; bent, stripped, or missing threads; bent shank; grooves in the shank, corrosion or rust; and gouges.

(ii) Damage for the input lever is defined as deformation or elongated attachment hole; bent flange; gouges; corrosion; and cracks.

(iii) Damage for the rod end is defined as corrosion, gouges, bending, and seizing.

(iv) Damage for the adapter or connector cover is defined as deformation, elongated attachment holes, gouges, cracks, corrosion, and missing surface coating on the adapter or connector.

(6) Where the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0260 specifies if the ball pivot shows rough stiffness, hard stops, corrosion, or damage, for the purposes of this AD damage is defined as deformation (bent flanges), gouges, areas of bare metal, or missing finish.

(7) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0260.

(i) No Returning Parts Requirement

Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0260 specifies to return parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.

(j) Special Flight Permits

Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov.

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(l) Additional Information

For more information about this AD, contact Mahmood Shah, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-5538; email: mahmood.g.shah@faa.gov.

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0260, dated November 25, 2025.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) For 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 this EASA material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.

(4) You may view this material at FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov.

91 FR 61361